Water & Wastewater Asia January/February 2024

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 

www.waterwastewaterasia.com 

Puraffinity plans to provide 

PFAS-free water to 1 billion 

people by 2030 

“The water industry brings 

humanity through the ongoing 

climate crisis” 

Flow measurement of treated 

water for a drinking water 

supply system

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CONTENTS 

04 Editor’s note 

05 News 

50 SWA newsletter 

63 What’s next? 

64 Advertisers’ index 

CONTENTS 

SINGAPORE FOCUS 

12 Navigating the water innovation 

wave: Startups Hydroleap and 

SpaceAge Labs ride high with 

seed funding 

13 Proaspect IIoT sensor product 

solutions 

14 Redefining cleantech: The need 

for onsite contamination testing 

in advancing environmental 

safety and sustainability 

IN CONVERSATION 

WITH 

17 “Future crises will most 

probably become water crises” 

15 

20 Puraffinity plans to provide 



22 “Prioritise adaptive solutions to 

ensure water security” 

24 “The water industry brings 

humanity through the ongoing 

climate crisis” 

IN THE FIELD 

26 HOYA Electronics recycles more 

than 75% of used water with 

PUB Water Efficiency Fund 

27 Reliable chemical analysers 

reduce maintenance 

28 Digital twins for water utilities 

validate economic feasibility by 

levelling system operations and 

improving decision-making 

30 Aerzen’s quantaer fine 

bubble aeration system saves 

resources 

32 The challenges of water 

management in South East Asia 

22 

2 Water & Wastewater Asia | January-February 2024

CONTENTS 

FOCUS 

34 Energy efficient opportunities for 

wastewater treatment 

37 Flow measurement of treated 

water for a drinking water supply 

system 

39 Instrumentation confidence 

underpins power station 

performance 

41 Mine water treatment relies on 

borehole loggers 

43 Materials can impact product 

design life and produce safer 

drinking water 

HOTSEAT 

45 Transforming waste into wealth: 

Altent Renewables solution to 

water-rich sludge 

32 

48 Sullage water treatment using 

CDS technology in Malaysia 

ON OUR RADAR 

55 New KSB submersible pumps 

in discharge tube for a range of 

applications 

56 Sumitomo speed reducer: 

Cyclo 6000 

57 New SO-3 screw compressor 

from BOGE 

58 Transmitter for precise drinking 

water flow measurements 

59 ANDRITZ C-press screw press: 

The operator-friendly technology 

for dewatering 

60 Danfoss DST P10B CANopen 

pressure transmitter for 

sensor-level connectivity 

40 

61 GWS ASME series: Heavy duty 

pressure vessels 

61 Emerson launches compact 

valve position indicator for quick 

commissioning 

SHOW REVIEW 

62 SEA 2023 highlights growing 

regional efforts for a green 

future 

59 

Water & Wastewater Asia | January-February 2024 3

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Our bodies of water 

Often, the repercussions of the 

water crisis are external: ocean 

pollution, decline in sanitation, along 

with increasing droughts and floods 

globally. But this perspective is 

surface level; the tip of the iceberg. 

This issue’s theme of health and 

water quality management delves 

into how the water crisis impacts the 

internal: our human body. We are, 

after all, about 60% water. 

In this first issue of 2024, Water & 

Wastewater Asia uncovers how 

the industry enhances water 

safety, spots early detection of 

contaminants in water and innovates 

to produce purified drinking water. 

For instance, ‘forever chemical’ 

contaminants: pathogens and 

per- and polyfluorinated substances 

(PFAS) continue to threaten our 

health. According to water treatment 

company Puraffinity CEO Henrik 

Hagemann, “current technologies 

were not designed to capture PFAS, 

especially not at the levels the US 

and some European countries are 

suggesting” (p. 21). Flip to page 20 

to find out how his company plans to 

provide PFAS-free water to 1 billion 

people by 2030 – an ambitious goal 

he deemed necessary for both 

nature and human health. 

As the demand for drinking water 

increases with a growing global 

population, distributing water 

poses a large-scale challenge for 

governments. In Australia, to supply 

more than 40 million litres of drinking 

water every day, KHRONE flowmeter 

allowed a water utilities provider 

to complete the changeover of 

flowmeters within 8hrs, ensuring 

the water supply to the city was not 

compromised (p. 37). Wilo Group 

president and CEO Oliver Hermes 

predicts that future humanitarian 

crises will become water crises as 

this vital resource is not distributed 

equally, but he plans to mitigate 

water scarcity by expanding Wilo 

product portfolio in all steps of the 

water cycle. Read all about his water 

strategies on page 17. 

To drive innovation, water 

companies such as NIVUS are 

enhancing their measurement 

system for precise measuring and 

monitoring of drinking water flows. 

Experts also shared that a simple 

change in material of valve seats 

produce safer drinking water, as 

seen in Mueller’s decision to move 

from nitrile (Buna-N) to Ethylene 

Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) 

(p. 43). In the long run, such 

enhancement in water technologies 

has profound impact to our health. 

As Ashley Ng, director of decision 

intelligence solutions for emerging 

markets at Xylem, puts it, “the 

water industry brings humanity 

through the ongoing climate crisis” 

(p. 24). It is up to us. Recognising 

this interconnectedness is a fresh 

perspective to kickstart 2024. Like 

the earth, we are all mostly bodies of 

water. 

Amira Yunos 

Amira Yunos 

Assistant Editor 

PABLO SINGAPORE 

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4 Water & Wastewater Asia | January-February 2023 2024

NEWS 

Endress+Hauser new CEO and 

president of the supervisory board 

Endress+Hauser has completed 

the change at the top of the group: 

Dr Peter Selders has taken over 

as CEO of the Swiss specialist 

for measurement technology and 

automation solutions. The 54-year-old 

holds a doctorate in physics, has been 

with the company since 2004 and 

was previously managing director of 

the competence centre for level and 

pressure measurement technology 

based in Maulburg, Germany. He is 

only the fourth CEO in the group’s 

70-year history. 

His predecessor Matthias Altendorf 

is moving to the supervisory board 

after 10 years at the helm. In 2014, 

he became the first non-family CEO 

to succeed Dr Klaus Endress. He is 

now replacing the 75-year-old as 

president of the supervisory board. 

In future, two members of the third 

generation will represent the interests 

of the shareholder family. In addition 

to Sandra Genge, Steven Endress, a 

grandson of the company founder, 

joined the board on 1 Jan 2024. 

Peter Selders has been succeeded at 

Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure by 

Dr Dirk Mörmann, who was previously 

head of technology and a member of 

the management board. 

From left: Dr Peter Selders takes over as Endress+Hauser CEO, 

Matthias Altendorf as new president of the supervisory board 

(Image: Endress+Hauser) 

SIWW2024 pre-registration is now open 

The 10th Singapore International 

Water Week (SIWW) will be held from 

18-22 Jun 2024 at the Sands Expo and 

Convention Centre. 

As one of the world’s premier platforms 

for innovative urban water, coastal and 

flood solutions, SIWW2024 will play 

host to global leaders, experts and 

practitioners from governments, cities, 

utilities, academia and industry to share 

best practices and solutions, showcase 

the latest innovations and technologies, 

and harness business opportunities 

to solve urban water and climate 

challenges. 

(Image: SIWW) 

Themes presented will include climate 

mitigation and water sustainability, 

resource circularity, climate adaptation, 

and digitalisation. SIWW is part of the 

strategic programme of the Singapore 

Government to grow the water industry 

and develop water technologies. 

Pre-register now for a 10% discount 

off standard registration fees. 


NEWS 

Aurecon expands environmental expertise in Asia 

with acquisition of Singapore consultancy 

International design, engineering 

and advisory company Aurecon has 

acquired Singapore Environmental 

Consultancy and Solutions (SECS), 

which is a member of the Aurecon 

group since 15 Nov 2023. 

This acquisition reinforces Aurecon’s 

commitment to expanding its 

environmental and sustainability 

capabilities in Asia. SECS brings 

expertise in environmental 

consultancy, amplifying Aurecon 

portfolio and presence in this 

domain, which it has been 

strengthening over the last three 

years in Asia. 

The acquisition of SECS follows 

Aurecon’s previous investments in 

the environmental and sustainability 

sector. In August 2021, Aurecon 

acquired Aurecon Lestari, a 

multi-disciplinary environmental 

consultancy based in Malaysia. 

Subsequently, on 1 Jun 2022, 

it expanded its reach with the 

acquisition of Acuity & Acumen, an 

environmental consultancy based 

in Hong Kong. In December 2022, 

Aurecon added AEC, one of Hong 

Kong’s independent ecological 

consultancies, to its portfolio. 

2030. Singapore is an ideal setting 

for Aurecon’s environmental 

dedication, as seen through 

initiatives like the Singapore Green 

Plan 2030. Furthermore, climate 

change concerns are pressing in 

Asia-Pacific, with a report from the 

Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

warning of potential GDP losses of 

up to 24% in developing Asia and 

30% in South East Asia by 2100 

under high emissions scenarios. 

However, Asia-Pacific has 

60-69% of CEOs committing 

to net zero or carbon-neutral 

targets, outperforming their 

global counterparts by 9-13%, 

according to professional 

services network PwC report. 

This commitment to sustainability 

and innovation promises $324bn 

in economic output and 1.5 million 

jobs in the region over the next 

two decades. 

SINGAPORE GREEN PLAN 2030 

Launched in February 2021, the 

Singapore Green Plan 2030 is 

a national initiative that aims to 

mobilise all sectors of society toward 

advancing sustainable development 

in Singapore. Spearheaded by five 

key ministries and supported by 

the government, the Green Plan 

outlines concrete objectives for 

the remainder of this decade. It 

encompasses five fundamental 

pillars, each with its focus: city in 

nature, energy reset, sustainable 

living, green economy, and resilient 

future. This acquisition aligns with 

Singapore’s vision. 

Koh Lay Kuan, operations director 

of SECS, said, “This integration 

offers [an] opportunity to elevate 

our environmental and sustainability 

services in collaboration with a 

leader in engineering, design, and 

advisory solutions.” 

Aurecon acquisition 

of SECS expands 

its environmental 

and sustainability 

capabilities in Asia 

(Image: Aurecon) 

Aurecon CEO William Cox said, “This 

initiative stands as a testament 

to our blueprint to 2025, the pillar 

dedicated to growth in Asia’s 

environmental and sustainability 

sector, where we target to achieve 

a growth rate exceeding 25% by 

2025.” 

Recognising Asia’s role in its 

portfolio, Aurecon’s commitment to 

environmental initiatives aligns with 

the region’s long-term projections 

of nearly US$26tn in investment by 


NEWS 

Ecolab expands regional 

coverage in Vietnam by opening 

a new manufacturing plant 

Ecolab, a global sustainability group 

offering water, hygiene, and infection 

prevention solutions and services, 

continues its expansion to meet 

the growing market and increasing 

customer demand. It has opened its 

new manufacturing plant in Ho Nai 

industrial park, near Ho Chi Minh city, 

Vietnam. This new facility serves to 

demonstrate Ecolab’s commitment 

to supporting customers, innovation, 

and sustainability in Vietnam and 

throughout South East Asia. 

The new plant has 3,000m 2 of space 

with a laboratory, manufacturing 

facility and warehouse. The new facility 

will also provide additional local job 

opportunities, bringing the company’s 

workforce in Vietnam to more than 100 

people. Ecolab supports customers in 

multiple industrial markets, including 

food service, lodging, healthcare, 

building facilities, F&B processing, 

manufacturing, transportation, 

pulp and paper, microelectronics, 

petrochemicals, and power generation. 

Greg Lukasik, senior vice-president 

and market head for South East Asia, 

Ecolab said, “This space will serve as a 

hub of science, expertise, and support 

From left: Grace Goh, director for supply chain, South East Asia; Greg 

Lukasik, senior vice-president and market head, South East Asia; 

Chandrasegeran Marimuthu, vice-president and country manager 

for Vietnam; consul general Susan Burns, US embassy and Vietnam 

consulate; Sam De Boo, executive vice-president and president, global 

markets; and Gregory Harris, principal commercial officer, US embassy 

and Vietnam consulate (Image: Ecolab) 

activities from the Ecolab team to 

serve both our customers, as well as 

the local community. With the opening 

of the new plant, we are creating 

new opportunities for customer 

partnerships, while supporting the 

development and growth of Vietnam’s 

thriving economy.” 


NEWS 

LANXESS reshuffles 

management positions in 

four business units 

Specialty chemicals company 

LANXESS is reshuffling the 

management positions in four of 

its 10 business units to provide 

additional impetus for its business 

in the consumer protection segment 

and benefit from the experience of its 

proven managers. 

These five personnel changes 

will take effect on 1 Feb 2024. 

Michael Schäfer, currently head of 

the material protection products 

business unit, will take over as head 

of the Saltigo business unit. From 

the liquid purification technologies 

business unit, the current head 

Bettina Blottko will take over as 

head of the material protection 

products business unit. The country 

representative for the greater China 

region, Michael Rockel, will take 

over the management of the liquid 

purification technologies business 

unit in addition to his current role. 

Finally, current head of the Saltigo 

business unit Michael Zobel will take 

over as head of the flavours and 

fragrances business unit. On the 

other hand, the current head of the 

flavours and fragrances business 

unit Holger Hüppeler, will take 

over as head of the group function 

procurement and logistics. 

“In addition to savings and 

structural improvements through 

our ‘FORWARD!’ action plan, this 

also includes personnel changes,” 

LANXESS CEO Matthias Zachert said, 

“We want to strengthen our consumer 

protection segment, which we have 

established in recent years.” 

(Image: LANXESS) 

US water utilities deploy PFAS treatment technologies to 

safeguard drinking water for communities 

As US and European lawmakers 

tighten restrictions on per- and 

polyfluoroalkyl substances 

(PFAS) contaminants in water — 

Xylem is working with municipal 

and industrial customers 

to address this challenge, 

reportedly with more than 80 

PFAS mitigation installations in 

the US. 

For example, Stratmoor Hills 

Water District (SHWD) — which 

oversees a combination of 

surface and groundwater sources 

in the foothills of Cheyenne 

mountain in southern Colorado 

springs — has deployed selective 

ion exchange treatment aimed 

at countering two of the most 

commonly identifiable PFAS 

compounds: Perfluorooctanoic 

acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl 

sulfonate (PFOS). Using selective 

single-use ion exchange 

technology, the utility has 

reportedly reduced contaminants 

to levels below compliance limits 

and mitigated water quality issues 

for its customers. 

In Maine, the Kennebunkport, 

Kennebunkport and Wells 

Water District (KKWWD) took 

a proactive approach when 

it detected PFAS in one of its 

system’s supply wells. KKWWD 

worked with Xylem to deploy a 

granular activated carbon system 

that has treated more than 

200 million gallons of water to 

meet the utility’s drinking water 

treatment goals. 

Elsewhere in California, the 

Orange County Water District 

(OCWD) deployed over 30 

liquid-phase media adsorption 

vessel systems to treat for 

PFAS, following a change in 

California law in 2020. The 

vessels were connected to 

existing drinking water wells 

to allow individual water 

districts to continue delivering 

drinking water in compliance 

for its more than 2.5 million 

customers. 

“The experience of these early 

adopters demonstrates that 

with the right technology and 

expertise, utilities can meet 

treatment and compliance 

goals cost effectively for their 

communities,” said Snehal 

Desai, senior vice-president, 

chief growth and innovation 

officer at Xylem. 


NEWS 

Bruntons Propellers as Thordon Bearings’ 

authorised distributor in the UK and Ireland 

Bruntons Propellers’ facility 

in Clacton-on-Sea, UK 

(Image: Thordon Bearings) 

Water-lubricated and grease-free 

seals and bearings group Thordon 

Bearings has appointed Bruntons 

Propellers as its new distributor for 

the UK and Ireland region, from 1 Jan 

2024. The propeller manufacturer will 

market, supply and service Thordon’s 

entire marine portfolio of propeller 

shaft bearings and seals. There is also 

provision for Bruntons to promote and 

service Thordon products in other 

market segments. 

Neil McDonald, Thordon Bearings 

regional manager, northern Europe 

and Africa, said, “In this important 

geographical market, Bruntons is [an] 

established brand, with a heritage 

spanning more than 100 years. The 

company, part of the Langham group, 

which includes Stone Marine and 

Tridan Engineering, also has the 

capability to machine and service 

bearings and seals on site.” 

With a unique arrangement 

among Thordon’s global network 

of authorised distributors, it is 

anticipated that Bruntons will 

provide greater exposure across 

a number of market sectors in the 

UK and Ireland, leveraging Thordon 

products with major system 

integrators, systems suppliers, ship 

owners and shipyards. 

Bruntons’ director, Jonathan 

Shaw, added, “The merchant 

maritime and defence sectors 

will be the main focus areas, 

but the agreement allows us to 

diversify into new industrial and 

pump markets.” He plans to offer 

a range of professional sales and 

engineering services, with the 

Thordon inventory in place soon for 

quick turnaround delivery. 

While the UK defence sector has 

for decades been a proponent of 

water-lubricated bearings and seals 

due to their low noise and vibration 

signature, Thordon Bearings is 

seeing more and more UK-flagged 

merchant vessels look to the 

technology to meet existing and 

future environmental regulations. 

“We hope to announce the first 

order under this new agreement 

in coming weeks,” said McDonald. 

“There are opportunities with new 

and existing customers throughout 

the region, since Bruntons can now 

offer complete propeller shaft lines 

with a Thordon seal and bearing 

package.” 


NEWS 

Rivers are Life unveils inaugural ‘state of 

rivers around the world’ survey results 

Collective voice for global river 

ecosystems Rivers are Life 

has revealed the multinational, 

multicultural, and cross-generational 

results of its ‘state of rivers around 

the world’ survey conducted by 

SAVANTA, a market research 

consultancy, from 3-18 Oct 2023. 

The global survey gathered insights 

from 6,645 people throughout 

14 countries and four continents, 

including North America, South 

America, Europe, and South East 

Asia. 

About 91% of people around the 

world believe that climate change 

needs to be acted on in 2024, and 9 

in 10 report that rivers are important 

to climate change mitigation. 

Moreover, 80% globally agree that 

rivers have an impact on their lives. 

“What is most shocking about this 

data is that more than 90% of the 

world agrees on: climate change 

needs to be addressed, and rivers 

play a vital role in mitigating those 

issues,” said Katie Horning, BeAlive, 

head of Rivers are Life. “Despite 

that alignment, there are still gaps 

in knowledge about rivers, and how 

people can take action to make a 

difference.” 

1 

2 

1 These results 

show that, 

despite regional 

and cultural 

differences, 

people globally 

agree that 

climate health 

and rivers are 

inseparable 

2 Despite 81% 

of people 

considering 

rivers to be a 

vital part of the 

food system and 

94% agreeing 

that rivers are 

important to 

agriculture, the 

majority would 

not eat a fish out 

of their local river 

3 98% would like to 

know more about 

environmental 

issues 

GREATER EDUCATION IS NEEDED 

Across findings, respondents 

agreed that there is a need for 

greater education around the 

environment, river systems and how 

they can help. 

Additionally, 74% of participants 

believe more public awareness will 

improve the health of rivers, and 

63% say lack of attention to the 

issue is a major obstacle to reducing 

water pollution. 

3 


NEWS 

“Education is a component to 

addressing issues like river pollution, 

and we at Louisiana State University 

(LSU) contribute both academic 

expertise and on-the-ground support 

to Rivers are Life,” said Clint Willson, 

interim dean of LSU college of the 

coast and environment and director 

of the LSU centre for river studies. 

The centre is an academic partner to 

Rivers are Life. “LSU commitment to 

this research signifies educating and 

encouraging younger generations 

globally to advocate for the vitality of 

waterways.” 

Around the world, and across 

generations, there are a few key 

differentiators about what individuals 

want to learn and how they take 

action. It is reported that 69% of 

people in South America and Asia 

are twice as likely to be interested 

in learning about environmental 

issues facing rivers than those in 

North America and Europe, which 

encompassed 30%. 

MORE URGENT ACTION IS 

REQUIRED 

While most survey respondents agree 

that some action is required, the 

findings show differing responses 

when it comes to how this problem 

is addressed: with 76% believing 

that human behaviour is the biggest 

obstacle to reducing water pollution; 

and only 10% of participants strongly 

agreeing that their countries’ leaders 

care about the health of rivers. 

About 59% of people are 

planning to take action to help 

clean their rivers in 2024, they 

just need help getting started. 

Images: Rivers are Life 

4 

5 

4 Limiting pollution 

in rivers is a 

higher concern 

for people in 

South America 

and Asia when 

compared to 

North America 

and Europe 

5 Despite these 

concerns, 

respondents 

shared a sense 

of hopefulness 

and willingness 

to help 



Navigating the water 

innovation wave: Startups 

Hydroleap and SpaceAge Labs 

ride high with seed funding 

1 2 

1 SpaceAge 

Labs founders 

(Image: 

SpaceAge Labs) 

2 From left: 

Dr Lakshmi 

Jothinathan, 

head of R&D, 

Hydroleap, and 

Dr Mohammad 

Sherafatmand, 

CEO and founder, 

Hydroleap 

(Image: 

Hydroleap) 

Singapore Water Exchange 

(SgWX) — a water technology, 

innovation and entrepreneurship 

ecosystem launched in 2018 to 

support the commercialisation of 

water technologies in the industry 

— is proving to be fertile ground 

for budding water tech startups. 

Recently, two resident companies, 

Hydroleap and SpaceAge Labs, 

secured funding rounds, highlighting 

the growing investor appetite for 

solutions in the water sector. 

HYDROLEAP’S CHEMICAL-FREE 

REVOLUTION 

Founded in 2016, Hydroleap is 

carving a niche with its chemical-free, 

electrochemical technology for 

industrial wastewater treatment. 

This eco-friendly approach has 

garnered interest from cooling 

towers, food processing companies, 

and palm oil industries across 

South East Asia. 

Their partnership for a pilot 

project on seawater desalination 

pretreatment with PUB, Singapore’s 

National Water Agency, is a 

testament to their technology’s 

potential. This project, aiming 

to eliminate chemical usage, 

reduce sludge volume and energy 

consumption, offers validation and 

track record for Hydroleap. 

Their recent Series A funding of 

US$4.4m, led by Japanese venture 

capital firm Real Tech Holdings, 

reflects investor confidence in 

Hydroleap’s technology. Other 

corporate investors in this Series 

A round include Seeds Capital, an 

investment arm of EnterpriseSG; 

Mitsubishi Electric; Wavemaker 

Partners; New Keynes Investments 

and the state government of Victoria, 

Australia. With this boost, Hydroleap 

is poised to expand into new markets 

in Australia, Japan and Indonesia 

over the next two years, and across 

data centres, F&B, manufacturing 

and mining industries. This allows 

Hydroleap to solidify its position 

as a leader in sustainable water 

treatment. 

SPACEAGE LABS: DATA-DRIVEN 

INSIGHTS FOR SMART WATER 

MANAGEMENT 

Leveraging the power of low-power, 

long-range wireless Internet of 

Things (IoT) devices to collect asset 

data, which is then processed with 

artificial intelligence (AI) software to 

generate insights, SpaceAge Labs 

helps companies optimise distributed 

water asset management. Their 



solutions provide real-time data 

on assets like sewers, water pipes, 

meters and decentralised water 

treatment skids. SpaceAge Labs has 

branched out from the water sector 

into adjacencies, using precise 

GPS location data and advanced 

geospatial analysis technology to 

improve work efficiency for grass 

cutting and snow clearing. 

SpaceAge Labs’ dedication to 

collaboration has been instrumental 

in their success. Pilot projects 

with industry giants like Xylem and 

Evoqua; now part of Xylem, coupled 

with partnerships with industry and 

PUB on various projects related to 

sewer networking management, 

sewer analytics, illegal discharge 

detection sensors and geofencing 

applications, have provided industry 

validation. These projects have 

also paved the way for further 

expansion in the UK, US, and 

Australia. Their recent Series A 

funding from US industrial water 

solutions provider Gradiant further 

strengthens their position in the 

global water tech landscape. 

SGWX: A CATALYST FOR 

INNOVATION 

The success of both Hydroleap 

and SpaceAge Labs highlights 

the role SgWX plays in nurturing 

water innovation. PUB’s 

commercialisation framework 

provides critical piloting 

opportunities for startups, while 

collaborations with EnterpriseSG 

and Imagine H2O accelerator 

programme accelerate their 

growth. 

Moreover, PUB’s commitment to 

investor engagement, including 

planned industry sharing sessions 

and the upcoming dedicated 

water-focused investor event, 

showcases its dedication to connecting 

startups with potential investors, with a 

‘Water Investors Series’ scheduled for 

mid-2024. 

A WAVE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR 

WATER TECH STARTUPS 

Hydroleap and SpaceAge Labs’ stories 

serve as an inspiration for aspiring 

water tech entrepreneurs. Their 

journey demonstrates the potential 

for innovation and the ecosystem 

that Singapore offers. As the global 

demand for sustainable water 

solutions continues to grow, there is 

no better time to navigate the wave of 

opportunity within this sector. 

ProAspect 

AID.IOT sensors 

Water and waste treatment industries focus 

on energy and maintenance optimisation 

challenges to tackle plant budget and utility 

bills. These industries strive to reduce 

carbon emission, define circular economy 

pathway and sustainability tracking as well 

as meet regulatory obligations to quantify 

carbon offset and prove net zero. 

To improve existing operational energy 

efficiency and slash down maintenance 

spending with predictive and proactive 

strategy, Singapore-based startup firm 

— ProAspect aid research — collaborates 

with local and international institutes 

of higher learning to provide Industrial 

Internet of Things (IIoT) sensor product 

solutions with web portal deployed at 

cloud platforms for condition assessment 

of rotating machineries. It sends alert 

notification based on impending anomaly 

and defect, maximising asset uptime, 

lifespan and spare parts replacement cycles 

to extend longevity of the machineries 

and lower cumulative carbon footprint. 

In 2023, ProAspect extensive pilot trials 

were completed, in which they predicted 

deterioration, operation upset to avoid 

catastrophic failure, and expensive repairs. 

One of its clients had an operational 

deficiency issue. Its compressor system — 

driven by variable-frequency drive (VFD) 

motor of 6.6 kilovolt (kV), 2,800kW and 

2,980 revolutions per min (rpm) at specific 

operational state — reportedly failed to 

reach design pressures and flow rate. 

ProAspect REAP AID device was thus 

deployed to assess the motor current 

during a complete operational cycle for 

2 days to correlate with supervisory 

control and data acquisition (SCADA) 

process parameter. The identified peculiar 

Integrated approach to resolve machinery 

fault and energy loss (Image: ProAspect) 

issues were crack in rotor bar that caused 

mechanical torsional oscillation, excited 

torsional resonance mode of compressor 

rotor, and motor skid lateral resonance 

at specific operational load and speed. 

The problem was resolved after extensive 

field inspection and design review. Client 

eventually repaired the end ring rotor bar 

defects and altered the motor mounting skid 

design to avoid damage to the gearbox and 

compressor system internal components, 

extending the longevity of its compressor 

system. 



Redefining cleantech: 

The need for onsite 

contamination testing in 

advancing environmental 

safety and sustainability 

proper conditions requires a lot of 

water and treatment must be precise, 

as overheating can compromise 

performance and lead to costly 

downtime. The water monitoring 

process strategy is key to preventing 

system breakdown and shutdowns, 

as well as reducing water demand 

and energy consumption. 

Contamination testing labs are 

crucial for safety, detecting 

contaminants in sectors such as 

F&B, pharmaceuticals, environmental 

monitoring and industrial processes. 

Adhering to strict regulatory 

standards imposed by government 

agencies and international bodies, 

testing labs play a vital role in 

monitoring pollution, upholding 

regulations, and promoting 

Deploying Aprisium 

onsite continuous 

contaminant testing 

and monitoring 

solutions, supported 

by real-time online 

data and AI-driven 

insights, yields 

advantages 

CHALLENGES OF THE TESTING 

LAB INDUSTRY 

Monitoring and testing industrial 

wastewater discharge in Electric 

Vehicles (EV) production, EV battery 

manufacturing, recycling, and 

mining including mine leachate and 

drainage, are essential to mitigate 

environmental impacts. These 

processes involve contaminants such 

as heavy metals like nickel, cobalt, 

lithium; solvents; organic matter; 

nutrients; toxic substances and acids. 

Industrial wastewater must be treated 

before it can be discharged into 

the environment. Mismanagement 

of these pollutants can result in 

soil and water contamination, 

negatively impacting ecosystems 

and human health. Furthermore, 

monitoring ensures compliance with 

environmental regulations, preventing 

potential fines and reputational 

damage. Addressing contaminants 

allows the EV industry to reduce 

their ecological footprint, endorse 

sustainable practices, and contribute 

to a cleaner future for transportation. 

Data centres and cooling towers 

rely on efficient cooling systems 

for stable operations. Maintaining 

responsible industrial practices. 

However, the well-established testing 

lab industry faces challenges as 

the commercial labs are not on site 

for continuous detection. A primary 

issue is the delay in obtaining 

results. Testing labs need samples 

to be collected, tagged, and then 

transported to offsite facilities for 

analysis. In numerous countries, 

samples even need to be flown to 

another city for testing due to the 

complexity and cost of lab setups, 

making them unavailable in every 

location. This process introduces 



a time lag that can hinder immediate 

detection of issues. In situations where 

real-time data is crucial for monitoring and 

prompt action, this delay poses a problem. 

Moreover, the inability to provide real-time 

data for monitoring and immediate 

action taking further exacerbate the 

challenges. Industries — those involved in 

manufacturing, environmental monitoring, 

or food production — require instantaneous 

feedback to address potential contaminants 

or deviations from standards swiftly. Without 

real-time data, the labs may miss the 

opportunity to prevent or mitigate problems 

promptly, impacting product quality and 

safety. 

1 

Additionally, the absence of the capability 

to support corporates with big data artificial 

intelligence (AI) analytics is a noteworthy 

limitation. In the era of advanced analytics, 

machine learning (ML) and AI — the 

ability to process large volumes of data 

in real-time is invaluable. Onsite labs with 

such capabilities can offer corporations 

insights derived from big data analytics, 

aiding in trend analysis, predictive 

maintenance, and continuous improvement. 

Offsite labs may struggle to provide these 

advanced analytics services, limiting 

their capacity to support corporations in 

optimising processes and ensuring 

long-term efficiency. 

The challenges of testing labs being offsite 

include delayed detection, the inability to 

provide real-time data for immediate action, 

and a lack of support for corporates with 

big data AI analytics. These underscore 

the importance of advancing testing 

capabilities to meet the evolving needs of 

industries requiring rapid and data-driven 

decision making, and this is where Aprisium 

comes in. 

THE APRISIUM SOLUTION 

Currently, Aprisium offers onsite solutions 

that facilitates both autonomous continuous 

testing and quick manual batch testing. 

The reports are easily accessible online, 

and with support for cloud-based data 

management and AI-driven insights for 

prescriptive and predictive analysis. 

With Aprisium solutions, industries are 

empowered to consistently monitor areas of 

contamination concerns. 

Aprisium technology has flexibility for 

customisation and versatility in detection 

capabilities. Engineered with modularity, 

it empowers industries to determine 

the number of concurrent detection 

channels to deploy on a single device or 

platform, enabling the identification of 

a spectrum of contaminants in liquids, 

semi-solids, and solids. The growing 

detection portfolio encompasses heavy 

metals, a list of inorganics, volatile 

1 Aprisium has started collaborations with major 

corporations in the data centre space to develop 

coolant management solutions for immersion cooling 

2 In water treatment, Aprisium solutions can address 

issues like water fouling, where contaminants 

accumulate on filtration membranes 

organic compounds (VOCs), and water 

quality parameters. Recently, Aprisium 

has started collaborations with major 

corporations in the data centre space to 

develop coolant management solutions 

for immersion cooling and partnering 

leaders in the wastewater treatment and 

soil remediation solutioning industries 

for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 

(PFAS) detection. PFAS, known as ‘forever 

2 



chemicals’ due to their enduring presence 

in the environment, are facing increasing 

regulation and bans in many countries 

due to their persistent nature. Aprisium 

is working on developing cost-effective, 

user-friendly, onsite-deployed solutions 

for the rapid detection and monitoring of 

PFAS. In Aprisium’s product development 

timeline, the creation of solutions for 

emerging contaminants such as micro- and 

nano- plastics, as well as various difficultto-detect 

pharmaceutical and industrial 

chemicals, are set to commence in late 

2024. 

Aprisium offers assistance to corporations 

in ensuring regulatory compliance and 

achieving sustainability goals. The most 

significant advantage of Aprisium solutions 

lies in the capacity to enhance profitability. 

This is achieved by implementing triggered 

warning systems that measure and 

monitor contaminants capable of causing 

damage to facilities. For instance, in 

water treatment, Aprisium solutions can 

address issues like water fouling, where 

contaminants accumulate on filtration 

membranes, leading to reduced water 

flow, increased hydraulic resistance, 

higher energy consumption, and potential 

damage to the membrane and other 

system components. Aprisium solutions 

reportedly have a direct impact on both 

the top and bottom lines of companies. 

APRISIUM IN EV PRODUCTION 

Deploying Aprisium onsite continuous 

contaminant testing and monitoring 

solutions, supported by real-time online data 

and AI-driven insights, can be said to yield 

advantages for EV production and the mining 

industry providing materials for EV batteries. 

In the EV manufacturing industry, the 

implementation of continuous contaminant 

testing serves pivotal roles. Firstly, it 

ensures the quality of materials utilised 

in EV components — a critical aspect 

for preserving the overall performance, 

safety, and longevity of electric vehicles. 

Additionally, real-time online data support 

facilitates efficient production by enabling 

manufacturers to swiftly identify and 

address contamination issues during 

the manufacturing process, minimising 

downtime and optimising overall efficiency. 

Furthermore, the integration of AI-driven 

insights contributes to cost reduction 

through the prediction of potential 

contaminant-related problems. This 

foresight allows for proactive measures, 

diminishing the need for reactive 

interventions and lowering the expenses 

associated with product recalls. 

In the EV battery manufacturing industry, 

advantages arise from the integration of 

onsite contaminant testing and monitoring 

solutions. Firstly, the impact of contaminants 

on battery materials can be substantial, 

influencing performance and lifespan. Onsite 

testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the 

purity of materials, thereby contributing to 

the overall efficiency and durability of EV 

batteries. Moreover, continuous monitoring 

provides an added layer of safety assurance 

by identifying potential hazards associated 

with contaminants, ensuring strict adherence 

to safety standards throughout battery 

production. Additionally, the incorporation 

of AI-driven insights proves instrumental 

in optimising manufacturing processes. 

By identifying patterns and suggesting 

improvements, these insights contribute to 

enhanced battery performance and more 

efficient resource utilisation, fostering 

advancements in the EV battery industry. 

In the mining industry for EV battery 

materials, the integration of onsite 

contaminant testing and monitoring 

solutions holds advantages. Firstly, these 

solutions ensure the extraction of high 

quality materials crucial for EV batteries, 

thereby contributing to the reliability and 

performance of the final product. 

Real-time monitoring upholds environmental 

compliance, swiftly identifying and 

addressing contaminant issues to reduce 

the overall environmental impact of mining 

activities. Furthermore, the application of 

AI-driven insights optimises the mining 

supply chain. By predicting potential 

disruptions and facilitating efficient resource 

allocation, these insights contribute to a 

more sustainable and cost-effective mining 

operation, fostering responsible practices in 

the production of materials for EV batteries. 

From 2025, Aprisium will target the EV 

industries in both Europe and the US — 

using its onsite continuous contaminant 

testing solution with real-time online data 

support and AI-driven insights — to enhance 

product quality, production efficiency, and 

overall sustainability. Aprisium ensures that 

corporations can meet the high standards 

required for the growing electric vehicle 

market. 

Contamination testing labs are crucial for safety, detecting contaminants in sectors such as F&B, 

pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring and industrial processes 

Images: Aprisium 


“Future crises will 

most probably become 

water crises” 

IN CONVERSATION WITH 

President and CEO of the Wilo Group Oliver Hermes tells us about his 

water strategies, the potential of South East Asia markets, and the 

market outlook in 2024, after the Group’s first-ever industry conference 

for sustainable smart cities in Asia and Singapore last September. 

By Amira Yunos 

on our planet, future crises will most 

probably become water crises. 

According to the UN world water 

report, around 5 billion people will 

be at risk of water shortage by 

2050 and more than 2 billion people 

currently live without adequate 

sanitation. With our efficient 

product portfolio, we are moving 

the vital resource along the entire 

water cycle in the most efficient, 

intelligent and climate-friendly 

manner. Through strategic business 

development, investments in R&D 

and mergers and acquisitions 

(M&A) activities, we are constantly 

broadening our expertise in all 

steps of the water cycle. 

Next comes the megatrend 

Speakers at the 

Wilo Group industry 

conference 2023 

(Image: Wilo Group) 

What are the most pressing issues 

in the water industry? How has Wilo 

Group strategised and digitalised 

to create differentiated solutions to 

meet these needs? 

Oliver Hermes: Let me embed 

the segments challenges into our 

five global megatrends that we 

identified to look 20 years ahead 

in our corporate strategy, starting 

with the most omnipresent one 

— climate change. Global CO2 

emissions continue to rise, taking 

global temperatures with them. 

The consequences in form of 

water shortages or extreme 

weather events are becoming 

more noticeable — especially in 

the countries in the global south. 

This requires smart and adaptable 

infrastructure solutions which 

leads me directly to the next issue, 

the topic of water scarcity. The 

uninterrupted supply of water for 

drinking, for agriculture, or for the 

industry has always been one of 

humanity’s challenges. As the vital 

resource is not distributed equally 

of urbanisation. Already half 

the constantly growing global 

population currently lives in cities, 

and more people are moving from 

rural to metropolitan areas. As 

cities grow, so does the demand 

for and the complexity of water 

and energy supply. With our smart 

and connected products within our 

‘Smart Urban Areas’ approach, we 

can contribute to a smart, efficient 

infrastructure that even keeps 

megacities in the global south 

worth living. 



Advanced infrastructure enables natural goods 

and value streams, business and politics 

work together, and sales processes and 

procurement follow standardised procedures. 

At the same time, high bureaucracy and close 

regulation tend to hinder the markets flexibility 

and innovation spirit. In terms of human capital, 

we lack young workforce, especially in the 

craft sector. 

Hermes delivering the keynote speech at the Wilo Group industry conference 2023 (Image: Wilo Group) 

The ongoing dynamic economic 

Underlying all of these is the trend of 

development in many parts of the world, digitisation. As the digital pioneer of our 

especially in emerging economies, is industry, we see this as an enabler for all 

triggering an increasing demand for 

these issues. Only if we are willing to adapt 

energy. By installing high-efficiency 

— to constantly innovate our products 

pumps for heating, cooling and air 

and business model — we will be able to 

conditioning applications, 246 terawatt succeed in the end. 

hours (TWh) of energy could be saved 

every year. Furthermore, together with What are the similarities and differences 

our long-term partner Schneider Electric, between mature and emerging markets, 

we have developed a complete solution and what opportunities for growth and 

for the generation and storage of surplus investment do you see in South East Asia? 

renewable energy. Using electrolysis, Hermes: Since the population in the 

the H2POWERPLANT converts surplus mature markets are shrinking rather than 

energy in green hydrogen, which can growing, and basic needs have been mostly 

then be temporarily stored before being saturated — we see that the focus is now 

‘reconverted’ into electricity via fuel cells in on the improvement of quality, efficiency, or 

a highly automated process when required. connectivity rather than on sheer quantity. 

For example, we have been approved by 

Last but not least, over the last few years, Thames Water to maintain and upgrade 

we experienced major geopolitical shifts. some of their pumping stations in and around 

Long-term alliances have crumbled, 

the city of London, the UK. Thames Water 

causing disruptions in the transaction of are responsible for around 9,000 pumping 

goods, money and knowledge. We oppose stations in the south east of UK, taking care 

this with our region-for-region approach, of the wastewater transport for the region. By 

thus by strengthening regional networks, upgrading these stations, they become more 

diversifying supply chains, and fostering reliable, cost-efficient and sustainable for the 

new trade corridors. 

frequency of extreme weather events. 

In the emerging markets, we see a different 

picture. What those countries have in 

common are volatile market dynamics, fast 

growing populations and middle classes, but 

also huge inner contradictions in terms of 

living standards. As the populations and their 

cities grow, so do their claims for functioning 

infrastructure as well as opportunities for 

consumption and employment. Emerging 

markets are often more affected by the 

consequences of climate change, sometimes 

by floods or droughts. The young population 

is eager to work while sometimes being less 

qualified. Though the economic potential 

might be obvious, different forms of 

government, corruptions, trade barriers or 

lacking regulations complicate investments. 

Both modes take different approaches and 

need a socio-economic understanding for the 

underlying dynamics. Then, each markets’ 

challenges can be seen as opportunities. 

South East Asia is an excellent example for 

this. In growing megacities like Kuala Lumpur, 

Malaysia or Singapore, millions of people 

demand for functioning infrastructure such 

as water supply and sanitation at the same 

time. With the new capital Nusantara, the 

Indonesian government radically invests in the 

creation of a greenfield city with a sustainable 

and futureproof infrastructure. 

How has Wilo Group progressed under your 

leadership since 2006? 

Hermes: In contrast to my valued 

predecessors, I am not an engineer but an 

economist, therefore I cannot help but look 

beyond the pump and along the entire value 

chain. Concretely, I was able to strengthen 

Wilo’s innovation leadership by pursuing the 

Group’s shift from a component manufacturer 

to a provider of systems, solutions and 

services. 



Due to the need for sustainable 

water solutions, our strong 

innovation spirit, our constant aim 

for technological leadership and our 

strong regional networks all over the 

world — we are well-positioned to 

future challenges. 

Oliver Hermes 

President and CEO 

smart and sustainable water solutions 

with Singapore’s role as an urban living 

laboratory to catalyse critical cross-sector 

collaborations that can enable smart, 

connected and sustainable cities across 

the region. This was especially important 

as the percentage of people living in 

urban cities will increase to 70% by 2050, 

alongside an increase in the number of 

megacities, which will put a strain on 

existing infrastructure as demand for 

resources are expected to grow alongside 

increasing climate risk. 

Another major target of mine has been to 

promote the transformation of the Wilo 

Group towards becoming a digital climate 

protection pioneer of the industry. As a result, 

we have been selected as one of the 50 

sustainability and climate leaders worldwide 

in 2020. Within the strategic realignment of 

the Group, I sped up the internationalisation 

of the business: I consolidated Wilo’s position 

as a leading global player by entering the 

markets of east, west and central Africa and 

the countries of Latin America, strengthening 

the regional presence in South East Asia and 

the Middle East, and establishing new plants 

in Russia, India, China, Korea, Turkey, the UAE 

and the US. As a result, the Wilo Group has 

grown into a multibillion business in recent 

years. 

Through the modernisation of brand identity 

and development of the corporate group 

from a ‘hidden champion’ to a ‘visible and 

connected champion’, I was able to increase 

our brand performance and visibility. This 

might be a result of my strong engagement in 

the field of political responsibility, for example 

my committee work for German Asia-Pacific 

Business Association, the German Eastern 

Business Association, German Near and 

Middle East Association (NUMOV) or most 

recently, the German-African Business 

Association, as well as the implementation of 

government and public affairs as a corporate 

function. 

What are your hopes for Wilo Group as it 

works towards its strategic plans? What is 

your market outlook for 2024? 

Hermes: The COVID-19 pandemic and 

the Russians’ invasion in the Ukraine 

have proven that the Wilo Group can 

consolidate and keep up profitable growth 

in challenging times. We do not expect 

the geopolitical situation to change for 

the better anytime soon, nevertheless, 

are optimistic that — due to the need for 

sustainable water solutions, our strong 

innovation spirit, our constant aim for 

technological leadership and our strong 

regional networks all over the world — we 

are well-positioned to future challenges. 

With our strategic business development in 

the fields of water treatment and hydrogen, 

we want to broaden our offer as a solutions 

provider in challenging times. 

With new capitals in Indonesia and 

Uzbekistan, we have some major smart city 

projects coming up and want to strengthen 

our position as a preferred solution provider 

in this field. In terms of market development, 

we certainly have a strong focus on the 

ASEAN region, with the aim to strengthen 

our regional presence with a hub in 

Singapore. The same applies for the Middle 

East and central Asian region as well as 

Sub-Saharan Africa. 

What is your take on Wilo Group’s first-ever 

industry conference in Asia this year? How 

has it sparked dialogue about sustainability 

and support urbanisation pathways in the 

region? 

Hermes: We are honoured to have hosted 

our first-ever industry conference in 

Asia and Singapore, one of the world’s 

smartest cities, in 2023. Our aim was to 

combine our expertise and network in 

The conference saw inspiring dialogues 

around how digital solutions can help 

address some of the megatrends we are 

facing, including globalisation, urbanisation, 

energy and water shortages, climate 

change, and digital transformation. We were 

proud to share how our high-efficiency and 

smart pumps are an example of such digital 

solutions, and exchange insights with 

thought leaders across various sectors 

including artificial intelligence (AI), green 

buildings, spatial planning and more. 

We are excited to continue strengthening 

our collaborations with these industry 

leaders as we shape the future of smart 

and sustainable urban areas in Asia. It is 

an exciting journey, and we are thrilled to 

be at the forefront. 

Oliver Hermes 

President and CEO, Wilo Group 



Puraffinity plans to provide 



With US$13.9m raised in Series A funding, this water treatment 

company which focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 

aims to eliminate these ‘forever chemical’ contaminants in both 

industrial and domestic settings by scaling its technology and 

expanding its manufacturing investment, according to 

Puraffinity CEO Henrik Hagemann. 


three times that of a single use adsorbent. 

“The reuse type of material development 

innovation unlocks the ability for the company 

to scale more readily towards impacting 

more people,” Hagemann said. Furthermore, 

a quantifiable goal allows Puraffinity to align 

its business model design and development 

of new features with a social impact. “That is 

what moves the needle and that is where we 

need to focus,” the CEO added. 

Industrial water treatment facilities (Image: Puraffinity) 

PFAS-FREE WATER BY 2030 

For Hagemann, providing 1 billion people with 

PFAS-free water in a few years’ time means 

his company must “think in highly scalable 

terms”. “That entails positioning ourselves 

as a material component supplier, where we 

work with system integrators who combine 

pre-treatment with advanced treatment 

options like Puratech for PFAS removal,” 

he said. “By supplying the adsorbent 

components that allow system integrators 

to excel, we can fast track our route to end 

users without needing to individually deliver 

every system for end users.” 

The Puraffinity 2030 plan contains several 

stages, which include building consortiums 

that enable disposal of the captured PFAS 

and regeneration of the adsorbent media. 

According to the CEO, having a regenerable 

media allows the same PFAS targeted 

material to address 3-5 cycles of use, 

effectively increasing the volume of water 

that can be made PFAS-safe by more than 

TWO FOCUSES OF PURAFFINITY 

TECHNOLOGY 

The first focus of its platform is to continue 

developing new precision adsorbent 

materials in line with the everchanging 

and increasingly stringent PFAS regulatory 

landscape on a global scale, said the CEO. 

Regulations across the world are reportedly 

setting new maximum contaminant levels 

(MCL) in the range of parts per trillion (ppt), 

with the US trying to get to 4ppt for two 

of the most common PFAS species. These 

levels are increasingly lower, and PFAS are 

still dangerous to human health in the range 

of ppt. Hagemann pointed out that the health 

advisory levels for PFAS have decreased 

faster than Moore’s law — the observation 

that the number of transistors on computer 

chips doubles about every 2 years — in the 

last 13 years. 



The reuse type of material 

development innovation unlocks the 

ability for the company to scale more 

readily towards impacting more 

people. 

Henrik Hagemann 

CEO, Puraffinity 

tolling partners in the advanced materials 

sector to fulfil market demand for the next 

two years, with initial sites in the UK and 

Germany,” Hagemann said. “COVID-19 

reminded how risky relying on a single source 

can be, so we are developing a distributed 

network of manufacturing partners to 

introduce added resilience to our scale up 

strategy.” 

“We have seen the PFAS regulations go down 

37.5 million times in the US alone, a drop of 

almost 10 times lower concentration every 2 

years,” he said. “While current technologies 

tackle common water contaminants and 

pollutants such as chlorine residuals and 

heavy metals, they were not designed to 

capture specific synthetic groups of chemicals 

like PFAS, especially not at the levels the US 

and some European countries are suggesting. 

“That requires a different approach and that 

is the core of our technology.” 

Puraffinity designs its scalable adsorbent 

material to capture and retain the most toxic 

‘forever chemicals’: both short branched 

and long-chains. A targeted materials allows 

broad-spectrum removal performance 

with higher throughput and longer lifespan, 

according to the CEO. “For industrial 

applications, that means being able to 

increase the capacity of an existing filtration 

bed site without adding more complexity 

— sometimes as much as a 500% increase 

in flow rates compared to petroleum-based 

ion exchange,” Hagemann said. Based on its 

third-party validations, the longer lifespan 

reduces the frequency of material change out, 

which helps Puraffinity in achieving scalability. 

In contrast, in domestic settings, a major 

nuisance the CEO said is the weekly checks 

on point-of-entry PFAS treatment systems 

in the basements of homeowners, and then 

trolleying the heavy granular activated carbon 

(GAC) vessels out of homes monthly. “The 

Puratech-powered solution would be three 

times smaller than current tanks, and still only 

get replaced every 12 months,” he said. “That 

is a major homeowner benefit, but also allows 

current domestic dealer networks to service 

their end users [in a more scalable way].” 

To provide assurance for future regulatory 

changes, Puraffinity targeted adsorbents 

can be reportedly upgraded within the same 

adsorbent media beds at both industrial and 

domestic settings, allowing its partners to 

respond to the fast-changing PFAS regulatory 

landscape. 

Puraffinity also predicts which one of the 

existing 5,000 PFAS species will be included 

to these regulatory frameworks, and then 

“developing new high-performance materials 

to capture and retain those PFAS substances 

at even lower levels”. Hagemann said, “It is a 

2D race across more PFAS species and lower 

PFAS concentrations.” 

The second focus is regeneration, which 

is part of Puraffinity’s value proposition 

to provide sustainable, green solutions 

to the market, with low carbon footprint 

and reduced impact to the environment, 

the CEO said. “We see that angle align 

with regeneration as a milestone across 

the water treatment industry since the 

media can be reused for non-point of use 

applications, like industrial or environmental 

remediation, enabling a circular economy for 

the future of water filtration materials,” he 

added. “Regeneration also aligns well with 

addressing the issue we keep hearing from 

customers: What about the disposal?” 

ITS MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT AND 

R&D CAPABILITIES 

The Series A funding allowed Puraffinity 

to scale up its operations, transitioning 

from a R&D focused organisation to being 

a full commercial entity. “The funds from 

our investment round will support our 

manufacturing expansion with a network of 

The CEO added that Puraffinity also plans 

to establish its own manufacturing facility 

and grow its team as a subsequent step in 

its expansion. “This facility will help us meet 

market demand on a global scale,” he said. 

“The funds will also support the growth of our 

organisational structure, going from 25 to 40 

employees by the end of 2024.” 

Lastly, the funds will support its continued 

investment in R&D and product development. 

“It is a common mistake for scaling deep 

tech companies to only invest in the most 

progressed product line, which creates 

overexposure to the success of that specific 

product,” Hagemann said. “This investment 

enables us to align with future PFAS market 

demands and regulatory needs, while 

proactively foreseeing what the regulatory 

framework may look like in 2025 and beyond. 

“It is a gamble, but one of those gambles 

that nature and human health require us to 

make.” 

Henrik Hagemann 

CEO, Puraffinity 



“Prioritise adaptive solutions 

to ensure water security” 

Nanostone Water CCO Jürgen von Hollen gives his leadership insights, 

how he aligns his clients’ ESG goals related to water management and 

what the ceramic membrane solutions offers in light of increasing global 

water stresses. 


a value proposition to customers is a 

priority to position its technology in 

the water filtration market for partners 

globally. 

The CCO aims to scale application 

in the company’s existing regions. 

“We will leverage and extend our 

regional application engineering 

capabilities and the application 

references to reach new markets,” 

Hollen said. “Educating our partners 

and customers through technology 

demonstration will be critical to the 

success of this strategy.” 

INTEGRATING ESG GOALS 

As a global manufacturer in ceramic 

ultrafiltration membranes, NSW puts 

ESG as its core offering strategy. 

“Not only does our technology offer 

an energy-efficient, high-recovery 

solution to our customers, but — from 

a manufacturing perspective — we 

are also focused on operational 

excellence,” Hollen added. “These 

An NSW project 

“GOOD TO BE BACK” 

With over two decades of experience 

in executive roles, Hollen’s previous 

experience as vice-president of 

advanced filtration technologies at 

Pentair catapulted his role as CCO 

of Nanostone Water (NSW) today. 

“Having worked in different industries 

allows the opportunity to identify 

key enablers for scaling a business 

[which] are industry agnostic 

and can be applied to the water 

filtration industry,” he said. “My time 

working at Pentair gave me insights 

into developing a new technology 

business globally.” 

As the CCO of this water filtration 

solutions company, his role is said 

to encompass sales and marketing 

activities in the business. For 

Hollen, defining the focus verticals, 

applications and regions, where the 

NSW ceramic membrane can offer 

provide an overall solution that has a 

low carbon footprint.” 

By prioritising dialogue and 

collaboration with its clients to 

achieve their ESG goals related to 

water treatment and management, 

NSW approach “entails discussions, 

assessments of its clients’ challenges, 

and devises solutions that are aligned 

with their objectives”, according to 

the CCO. “By fostering a partnership 



1 2 

of durable materials, which allows robust 

treatment subject in variable conditions 

over an extended lifetime, and high-flux 

filtration, which provides our membranes 

with resilience to harsh conditions present in 

challenging waters such as high turbidity and 

harmful algae blooms, in a compact footprint.” 

1 Its ceramic filter 

2 NSW technology 

grounded in mutual ESG commitment, 

we aim to deliver solutions that are 

synergistically aligned with our clients’ 

sustainability aspirations and operational 

requirements,” Hollen said. 

In South East Asia, NSW has conducted 

dozens of pilots with industrial partners, 

which have led to over 100 installations, 

according to the CCO. “We are working 

with Maynilad Water in the Philippines to 

improve the quality of drinking water in 

metro Manila, cultivating relationships in 

our focus regions whose water sources 

present substantial treatment challenges,” 

Hollen said. Another example, he added, 

is a NSW partnership with electric power 

generation company ACWA Power to 

develop a pre-treatment solution for 

seawater desalination in the Middle East, 

which was piloted at the Barka desalination 

plant in Oman. 

TACKLING WATER CHALLENGES WITH 

NSW CERAMIC MEMBRANE SOLUTIONS 

In light of climate change and increasing 

global water stresses, Hollen said that 

these impacts are already threatening the 

security of water supplies around the world, 

whether through increased frequency 

of algal blooms in warming climates 

or heightened severity of droughts. In 

response, authorities in some regions have 

been implementing strict requirements 

on the quality of discharged wastewater, 

mandating zero liquid discharge (ZLD) 

and reuse for certain applications in order 

to safeguard water resources. “Looking 

ahead, we see water scarcity escalating 

while resource quality continues to decline, 

making treatment all the more challenging,” 

the CCO said. 

To tackle this, Hollen said that the industry 

must continue to innovate and prioritise 

adaptive solutions to ensure water security. 

At NSW, its ceramic membrane technology 

is suited for difficult-to-treat waters across 

a range of applications, including seawater 

desalination, variable surface waters, and 

challenging industrial wastewater. He said, 

“We accomplish this through a combination 

By fostering 

a partnership 

grounded in mutual 

ESG commitment, 

we aim to deliver 

solutions that are 

synergistically 

aligned with 

our clients’ 

sustainability 

aspirations and 

operational 

requirements. 

Jürgen von Hollen 

CCO, Nanostone Water 

Additionally, the threat of micropollutants and 

contaminants of emerging concerns, such as 

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is 

still present. In alignment of its goal to provide 

product solutions that commit to protecting 

the environment, NSW has complied with 

applicable environmental regulations. “We 

have conducted in-depth due diligence 

on our supply chain and — based on our 

production knowledge and declarations 

collected from our suppliers — our products 

do not contain any intentionally-added PFAS 

chemicals,” 

Hollen added. 

With this enabling technology for water reuse 

in both municipal and industrial applications, 

NSW plays a role in resilient water supply. 

“The robustness of our membrane provides 

operational reliability, ensuring quality 

water in the face of evolving challenges 

presented by climatic shifts,” the CCO said, 

“We strive to develop solutions that tackle 

today’s concerns [and] are well-positioned to 

address these future challenges.” 

Images: Nanostone Water 

Jürgen von Hollen 

CCO, Nanostone Water 



“The water industry 

brings humanity through 

the ongoing climate crisis” 

Ashley Ng, director of decision intelligence solutions for emerging 

markets at Xylem, shares insights on the company’s collaboration with 

Idrica, harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry, and the 

timeliness of addressing the climate crisis. 


Ashley Ng 

Director, decision intelligence solutions, emerging markets 

INTEGRATED XYLEM SOLUTIONS 

Tell us more about Xylem’s 

partnership with Idrica. 

Ashley Ng: Xylem is partnering 

with Idrica, a leader in water data 

management and analytics, to create 

an integrated platform. The ‘Xylem 

Vue powered by GoAigua’ platform 

helps utilities maximise every digital 

investment in an affordable and 

sustainable way by combining Xylem 

Vue portfolio of smart connected 

devices, analytical applications, 

and services, with Idrica’s GoAigua 

digital management technology that 

has already been implemented in 

more than 300 water utilities around 

the world. Under this partnership, 

Xylem is the global distributor of 

Idrica’s solutions. 

How have AI and digital optimisation 

enhanced performance in 

water infrastructure? How does 

Xylem intelligence solutions aid 

in decision-making and asset 

management? 

Ng: Some examples of these 

positive outcomes include improved 

cost efficiency of treatment plant 

operations, better utilisation of 

existing network infrastructure 

and greater efficiencies in existing 

work processes amongst others. 

These outcomes have been realised 

in active operations worldwide. 

For example, in Germany, our 

plant optimisation solution helped 

EWE Wasser save some 1.2 

million kWh annually — a 30% 

reduction in aeration energy 

requirement. In another example, 

our holistic network monitoring 

solution has helped Air Selangor, 

Malaysia’s largest utility, reduce 

their non-revenue water (NRW) 

by contributing to the early 

identification of leaks — two per week 

on average. Another outcome was 

achieved at South Bend in the US, 

where our solutions resulted in more 

than 1 billion gallons of reduction in 

annual combined sewer overflows 

through real-time decision support 

for sewer operators, saving the city 

over US$400m in capital investments. 

These achievements highlight the 

power that digital enablement brings 

for customers to improve their water 

operations. 

WATER MANAGEMENT 

Tell us what distinguishes GoAigua, 

the integrated software and analytics 

platform, from its competitors? 

Ng: ‘Xylem Vue powered by GoAigua’ 

is a complete, scalable, and modular 

solution covering assets to analytics 

across the water cycle. For the 

first time, utilities and other water 

and wastewater managers and 

operators will be able to connect, 

analyse, visualise, and manage all 

their assets and processes through 

a single, integrated platform. Therein 

lies its differentiation against our 

competitors — it is more than a point 

solution solving only a single problem. 

Its modular design allows users to 

quickly utilise datasets across the 

organisation and deploy them to 



additional use cases within our suite 

of tools. 

Furthermore, with the Idrica 

partnership, Xylem has augmented 

our offerings with both technical 

depth — from asset to analytics 

in our core business — and 

operational knowledge, through 

Global Omnium’s experience and 

references. 

What are the challenges that AI 

poses and how should the water 

industry overcome them? 

Ng: New developments in generative 

AI provide many opportunities to 

unlock value in the water industry. 

However, there are challenges that 

should restrain our optimism on its 

utilisation in our industry. 

Firstly, we must recognise that 

AI, no matter how powerful, is as 

good as its training. To that end, 

representative data shapes the 

effectiveness of AI utilisation in 

the water industry. One of the 

challenges in the water space is 

creating and maintaining these 

representative datasets. The best 

way to overcome this is to make 

curating data part of everyday 

workflows and to distribute the 

effort to the people on the ground 

who are best placed to judge the 

veracity of the data. Taking care 

of data is much like tending to a 

garden — doing it regularly is easier 

than trying to fix a patch after it has 

become overgrown. 

Secondly, recognise the human 

element with adoption of AI. The 

deployment of AI will face its share 

of detractors with varied interests 

in resisting its adoption. Anxiety 

will also be generated by workers 

who fear for their job security. The 

solution is a holistic approach to 

change management which will 

need to include redesigning jobs and 

workflows as well as upskilling of the 

workforce to adapt to these changes. 

These efforts will make or break the 

achievement of outcomes with new 

technologies and should be made a 

priority in the adoption of AI. 

Lastly, AI introduces a challenge of 

accountability. As with self-driving 

cars, the same conundrum is faced 

in the water industry — if operations 

are turned over to AI algorithms, who 

is responsible when things go wrong? 

In the water industry, we deal with 

life and death issues like water safety 

or flood control. Systems must be 

designed to ensure accountability 

and risk management remain in 

place as we explore AI in aiding the 

water industry. Retain critical control 

decisions in human hands and ensure 

that human eyes remain on key 

operational parameters even as AI 

capabilities are augmented. 

What is the best approach to 

integrate AI with companies’ existing 

solutions in emerging markets? 

Ng: The urgency to digitise water 

stems from the imperative to 

enhance real-time monitoring, 

improve efficiency, and build 

resilience in water management to 

address evolving environmental 

challenges and ensure sustainable 

access to this essential resource. 

In emerging markets, digital maturity 

remains the main stumbling block to 

adoption of technologies such as AI. 

The best approach to adopting such 

technologies is to adopt a considered 

approach to the endeavour. Start 

by laying out the strategy: First 

understand the drivers for the 

change and the outcomes to be 

achieved. Next, focus on building 

the right team to drive this change. 

We then choose the technologies 

to achieve the outcomes. Lastly, 

start small, celebrate progress and 

make incremental steps towards 

the big changes that will set up 

companies to face the pressing 

water challenges of tomorrow. 

The need is urgent and for the first 

time across the world, the water 

industry faces a confluence of 

political will and new technologies to 

bring humanity through the ongoing 

climate crisis. I am optimistic that 

the water industry will step up to the 

challenge and I am excited to be at 

the forefront with Xylem’s suite of 

enabling solutions. 

‘Xylem Vue powered 

by GoAigua’ (Image: 

Xylem) 

In the water industry, we 

deal with life and death 

issues when we look at 

water safety or flood 

control. Systems must 

ensure accountability and 

risk management remain 

in place as we explore AI in 

aiding the water industry. 

Ashley Ng 

Director, decision intelligence solutions, emerging markets 


IN THE FIELD 

HOYA Electronics 

recycles more than 

75% of used water 

with PUB Water 

Efficiency Fund 

POTABLE WATER 

WATER 

DISPENSER 

WASHBASIN 

WASHROOM 

IRRIGATION 

SYSTEM 

water supply from our production reduced 

about 75% of NEWater demand,” he said. 

“This saved our water bills and reduced 

our production costs, resulting in a better 

profit.” 

HOYA Electronics reportedly 

incorporated two additional treatments: 

electrodeionisation (EDI) system and 

reverse osmosis (RO) system to recycle 

rejected water to ensure only clean water 

is used for production. Using submersible 

pumps, this EDI system collects rejected 

water into a sump pit, which is then 

transferred to the process recycle water 

(PRW) storage tank for use in other areas 

such as makeup air unit (MAU) air washer 

drain to reuse cooling tower operations at 

rooftop and wastewater recycling. 

NEWATER 

(Image: HOYA Electronics) 

HOYA Electronics — a large water user 

in the semiconductor industry — has 

exemplified how water efficiency is 

embraced with its water recycling 

initiatives over the past 5 years in 

Singapore. As a developer of advanced 

mask blanks, which are a critical 

component of the semiconductor 

manufacturing process, this large water 

user has achieved the highest water 

recycling rate in the semiconductor 

industry to date. Its water recycling rate 

reportedly increased from 29% in 2014 to 

over 75% in 2023. 

UPW 

PLANT 

REJECT 

WATER 

From 1 Jan 2024, PUB, Singapore’s 

National Water Agency has introduced 

mandatory water recycling requirements 

for water intensive industries such 

as wafer fabrication, electronics, and 

biomedical industries. Its Water Efficiency 

Fund (WEF) was raised to S$5m per 

project from $1m to support companies 

AIR-CON 

DRAIN 

HOYA 

PRODUCTION 

REJECT WATER 

WASTEWATER 

TREATMENT 

PLANT 

REJECT WATER 

RECYCLING 

SYSTEM 

WASTEWATER 

RECYCLING 

SYSTEM 

REJECT WATER 

PUBLIC SEWER 

such as HOYA Electronics. Singapore’s 

total water demand is expected to double 

by 2065, with the non-domestic sector 

projected to account for two-thirds of 

this demand, according to PUB. With the 

second reading for the Public Utilities 

(Amendment) bill introduced in August 

2023, minister for sustainability and 

the environment Grace Fu announced 

enhancements to WEF from Jul 2023, 

supporting companies such as HOYA 

Electronics to implement water recycling. 

Sethurajan Muthukumar, staff engineer 

and water efficiency manager of HOYA 

Electronics, said that the company’s 

use of NEWater — a high-grade 

reclaimed water that has been purified 

with advanced membrane and UV 

technologies — for the processes 

depended on PUB supply initially. “After 

the implementation of these water 

TO NEWATER 

TANK FOR REUSE 

recycling systems, a secondary source of 

According to Muthukumar, the MAU air 

washer drain used to discharge 77m 3 /day of 

water to public sewers. Now, the water 

is collected and transferred to cooling 

towers directly, reusing it instead of 

discharging it. With a water recycling facility 

behind its office building, wastewater from 

production discharge, fan dry coil unit and 

condensation are recycled there. The 

clean recycled water is then pumped 

back to its central NEWater tank for 

repeated use. 

From left: Roland Chan, deputy director, PUB water supply 

department and Sethurajan Muthukumar, staff engineer 

and water efficiency manager of HOYA Electronics 

(Image: HOYA Electronics) 


Reliable chemical analysers 

reduce maintenance 

IN THE FIELD 

By Annmarie Delfino, In-Situ content writer 

1 

1 The WHCRWA 

was created by 

Texas legislature 

to identify and 

secure a long-term, 

low-cost supply 

of quality drinking 

water (Image: 

In-Situ) 

2 ChemScan nutrient 

analyser (Image: 

In-Situ) 

A few years ago, US water utility company 

West Harris County Regional Water 

Authority (WHCRWA) sought replacement 

analysers to reduce maintenance and run 

retreatment operations more efficiently. 

An upcoming expansion project adding 

two new pump stations to the district 

by 2025 makes reliable measurements 

more important, as WHCRWA will be 

responsible for blending water from 

multiple sources while still producing 

consistent residuals. 

CHALLENGE 

The WHCRWA was originally created by 

the Texas legislature in 1975, in response 

to growing subsidence. In the early 

1970s, the use of groundwater without 

aquifer recharge caused subdivisions in 

the Baytown-Pasadena-Galveston area 

to sink below sea level, making them 

unliveable. WHCRWA was founded to help 

the district west of Houston shift its water 

supply from aquifers to surface water, to 

ease the stress on groundwater supplies 

and prevent subsidence. 

Currently, 30% of the water supplying 

West Harris county is required to come 

from surface water instead of well water. 

In 2025, that requirement will increase 

to 60%. To accommodate more surface 

water coming in from different 

areas, WHCRWA is building two 

new pump stations in the next two years. 

“We get about 28 million gallons of water a 

day,” said Bryan Thomas, area manager at 

Inframark, the private utility that operates 

the WHCRWA. “After the expansion, it will be 

110 million.” 

WHCRWA is responsible for making sure 

drinking water from plants in the city of 

Houston is treated before going out to 

customers in the surrounding area. They 

monitor the treated water they receive to 

verify that it meets requirements for total 

chlorine residuals. Accurate and continuous 

data is crucial to this process, but the 

analysers installed at WCHRWA were not 

performing as expected. “They required 

constant maintenance,” added Thomas. 

“When we did need to make an adjustment, 

there was a 30mins wait time in-between 

when we made the adjustment and when 

we could see if it was working.” 

With a small staff of three operators, the 

time and effort to maintain the analysers 

made working with them unsustainable. 

Thomas said that they had to maintain these 

things every week to keep them in a running 

state and they would fail after a couple of 

days which took up a lot of their time. 

2 

SOLUTION AND RESULTS 

In 2019, WHCRWA started looking for 

replacement analysers. After comparing 

options, they selected two UV 2250 ChemScan 

analysers for chloramination. ChemScan is 

an In-Situ brand. ChemScan maintenance 

analysers proved reliable for the team and 

its two analysers provided continuous 

measurements of nitrate and ammonia to 

verify that WHCRWA meets residual limits after 

retreatment. This basic routine maintenance 

kept them running as expected. 

Incorporating new water sources from the two 

new pump stations will put more emphasis 

on retreatment. WHCRWA will monitor total 

chlorine residuals to make sure they fall within 

limits once water from the pump stations is 

combined. “Having these reliable analysers is 

going to help us maintain the residuals and not 

have to worry about it being too low on one 

end and too high on another,” said Thomas. 

Though the expansion project will change 

operations for the plant, the new analysers 

brought a peace of mind for the team. He 

added, “If we did have issues, we were not 

getting a consistent residual. We [now] have 

something that can give us a real number. It 

is not something that we have to guess at or 

constantly keep an eye on.” 


IN THE FIELD 

Digital twins for water utilities 

validate economic feasibility 

by levelling system operations 

and improving decision-making 

By Sandra DiMatteo, industry marketing director, water infrastructure, Bentley Systems 

and connected digital twin environment 

that water utility personnel can use 

to gain insights from their data. The 

dynamic integration of operational data 

enables utilities to see what is happening 

in real-time or review any moment in 

time, while providing a definitive ledger 

of change of the water systems and 

assets as they evolve. This dynamic 

aspect is also what differentiates digital 

twins from the static 3D models typically 

used for design and construction. 

Capital planning and risk management (Image: Bentley Systems) 

From ageing infrastructure and changing WHAT IS A DIGITAL TWIN? 

environmental regulations to funding gaps A digital twin is a realistic and dynamic 

and climate-fuelled natural disasters, water virtual representation of a physical asset, 

utilities around the globe face problems in process, or system. Creating a digital twin 

delivering reliable and affordable water to for a water system involves integrating 

their communities. Their potential solutions existing models and data. This include 

are similarly wide-ranging, from stimulus engineering models such as hydraulic 

grants and conservation programmes to models of the water network and 3D 

smart water technologies. 

models of the water treatment plant and 

pumping stations; new virtual reality models 

Utilities employ digital strategies to 

if 3D models are inadequate, outdated, or 

address urgent risks and meet the 

non-existent; and GIS, asset management 

requirements for digital transformation and customer data. Additionally, digital 

aligned to strategic investments in water twins are continuously updated with 

systems. One compelling digital strategy operational data from supervisory control 

that water utilities adopt is a digital twin. and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, 

A digital twin of water infrastructure can sensors, meters, and other measured 

help utilities get the most out of their data sources — creating a real-time model that 

to improve their decision-making. Most can be used in operations and maintenance 

utilities have the key building blocks in (O&M). 

place to make digital twins economically 

feasible as a short-term strategy with The integration of isolated, disparate data 

long-term benefits. 

into a unified view provides a collaborative 

The end result is an information-rich 

digital infrastructure model that supports 

engineering, O&M, and capital planning 

for smart water networks. With digital 

twins, utilities can perform ‘what if’ 

analyses and simulations throughout 

the lifecycle of a water system — 

from long-term system vulnerability 

and capacity planning to immediate 

performance monitoring and emergency 

response. The process enables utilities 

to better understand the past and 

current performance of their water 

systems while helping them predict 

future performance and simulate the 

impact of potential changes in the virtual 

world before funds are committed. 

Digital twins help develop smart 

sustainable water management platforms 

and decision support frameworks for 

the modern workforce. Furthermore, 

cloud-based digital twins enable the 

remote sharing of data, dashboards, 

and situational intelligence, overcoming 

the limitations of legacy water control 


IN THE FIELD 

rooms since it interoperates with systems 

and real-time data, SCADA, and data 

historians. A digital twin handles large 

volumes of disparate data sources to gain 

insights in real-time, and reduce false 

alarms. 

BRICKS AND MORTAR 

Moving toward a digital twin may seem 

daunting, but in reality, most water 

utilities have already started. They have 

in place systems that they use in their 

day-to-day operations: sensors, SCADA, 

automated metering, asset registry, 

hydraulic modelling, and so on. Since 

the fundamental purpose of a digital 

twin is to unite the data from different 

sources and provide a unified view of 

that data, utilities have already done the 

difficult work of implementing systems 

that generate digital data, which are the 

building blocks of their digital twin. 

The next step involves the mortar 

that connects that data. For a smooth 

journey, the technology underpinning a 

digital twin must be open. Digital twin 

technology is not off-the-shelf software. 

Instead, every digital twin is assembled, 

built, customised, and advanced using 

pieces from many sources that will 

change over time. To ensure that a utility 

controls their digital twin and can include 

the systems and data, they need to rely 

on technology that is open-sourced. 

This ‘openness’ signifies that the digital 

twin can connect smoothly with other 

technologies. 

The technology within that mortar must 

also include these other key features — 

decision-making tools and scalability. 

The importance of digital twin rests on 

the ability to use data to make informed 

decisions. This implies the use of built-in 

decision-making software that can link 

current status or conditions data with 

a robust, mature portfolio of tools for 

analyses and simulations. Scalability 

means that a digital twin can analyse 

at the scale of, for example, a city or a 

treatment plant, down to an individual 

pump or valve. 

DIGITAL TWINS FOR NETWORK O&M 

Many utilities already have hydraulic 

models of their water networks that 

they use for planning and design. 

Incorporating those models within a 

digital twin helps utilities simulate events 

such as pipe failures, power outages, 

to analyse the resilience of their water 

network systems and assess their risk. 

Furthermore, integrating those models 

with SCADA data provides an accurate 

assessment of how a water system is 

currently behaving. This enables utilities 

to simulate and test different ways that 

their water systems could be operated to 

improve emergency response, increase 

efficiency, or save energy. 

Continuously updating digital twins with 

measured operational data also helps a 

utility determine the location of potential 

leaks and reduce water loss. A digital 

twin can leverage data from existing work 

management and asset management 

systems, as well as other enterprise 

systems, to support risk-based asset 

management — informing decisions such 

as repair versus replace and prioritising 

capital improvement projects. 

DIGITAL TWINS FOR PLANT O&M 

Digital twins of water and wastewater 

treatment plants (WWTPs) are useful 

to improve plant efficiency, reliability, 

and resilience as well as for training and 

safety compliance. Virtual walkthroughs, 

communications, and simulations 

give personnel enhanced visibility 

to plant data and insights for better 

decision-making. For example, reliability 

engineers can simulate hypothetical 

events such as a multiple screening 

system or pump failure to evaluate 

the severity and consequences of the 

failures and take preventative actions. 

Digital twins can also be used to flag real 

problems, such as equipment that is not 

operating properly — enabling virtual 

exploration and quick access to pertinent 

data. For example, operators can zoom 

into the equipment area and pull up 

data related to that manufacturers’ 

specifications or repair manuals. This 

gives personnel immediate access to 

information without wasting time digging 

through file cabinets or hunting through 

document libraries. 

CONCLUSION 

Digital twin technologies, such as 

OpenFlows powered by the Bentley iTwin 

platform, are smart integration solutions 

that connect information technology, 

operational technology, and engineering 

technology. These connections help 

water utilities exploit the potential of 

uniting legacy data with operational and 

engineering data to provide a wider view 

of a utility’s water system and enable 

data-driven decision-making. 

In the coming years, digital twins will 

become an ingrained part of every 

aspect of the water utility control room. 

Utilities can start building digital twins 

overnight with the data and systems they 

already use. As they become the new 

normal for water utilities, digital twins will 

improve the reliability of water systems, 

reduce utilities’ capital and operating 

expenditures, lessen environmental 

footprints, and provide customers with 

safe services. 

Sandra DiMatteo 

Industry marketing director, 

water infrastructure, Bentley Systems 


IN THE FIELD 

Aerzen’s quantaer fine 

bubble aeration system 

saves resources 

1 

2 

THE CHALLENGE 

Victor Valley Wastewater 

Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) 

is an 18MGD activated sludge 

plant located 90mins north of Los 

Angeles in California, US. VVWRA 

uses plug flow extended aeration 

with anoxic selectors for alkalinity 

recovery process for biological 

treatment of their wastewater. 

The originally installed aeration 

system, utilising membrane tube 

diffusers, provided insufficient 

and inconsistent oxygen transfer 

required for removing ammonia. 

As a result, VVWRA could not 

meet their monthly average 

ammonia discharge limits on a 

consistent basis. The inconsistency 

in nitrification also leads to 

inconsistent denitrification within 

the biological treatment process. 

Inconsistent denitrification, required 

operation of the Mixed Liquor 

Recycle (MLR) pumps at 4.75 

times the influent flows to remove 

nitrogen, resulting in excess of 

US$150,000 annually for chemical 

costs for the addition of alkalinity. 


IN THE FIELD 

THE SOLUTION 

In 2013, VVWRA evaluated an 

energy savings programme at 

VVWRA for four of their aeration 

basins by upgrading the existing 

tube diffusers to 9in quantaer 

membrane disc diffusers provided 

by Aquarius Technologies. 

Collaborating with Gilbert Perez, 

the plant director of operation, 

Aquarius was able to provide 

designs, calculations and equipment 

costs to retrofit the plant to newer 

and more efficient fine bubble disc 

diffusers. During the initial design, 

energy and chemical cost savings 

for the retrofit were expected to be 

30-40%. However, shortly after the 

installation, Perez and operators 

noticed the higher efficiency of 

new disc diffusers, dropped the 

air requirement 15%, and the MLR 

pump energy requirement by 45%. 

transfer efficiency of the system 

provided complete nitrification. 

The consistency in nitrates 

recycled into the anoxic tanks 

allowed for stable denitrification. 

As a result, the MLR pumps were 

turned down to 2.5 times the 

influent flowrate. 

The denitrification process now 

recovers sufficient alkalinity to 

eliminate the need of magnesium 

hydroxide dosing, saving VVWRA 

over $150,000 in chemical costs. 

After 12 months of operating 

basins 9-12, VVWRA contacted 

Aquarius with a similar request 

for an aeration retrofit in the 

remaining 8 basins as part of 

Phase 2. Aquarius teamed up 

with a consulting engineer and 

contractor to provide a more 

efficient system to further 

reduce half of the operating 

costs for the plant. The high 

efficiency aeration system and 

coordination between Aquarius 

and VVWRA have resulted in a 

system demonstrating the lowest 

cost of ownership. 

Images: VVWRA operating data 

1 Quantaer fine bubble disc diffuser system 

2 Top view of the plant 

3 Quantaer EPDM membrane disc diffusers 

operating at startup 

3 

As a result, VVWRA has realised 

over $30,000 in annual energy 

savings. VVWRA operations 

included dosing magnesium 

hydroxide for recovering alkalinity 

in the wastewater, which is 

consumed in the nitrification 

process. Since the denitrification 

process — which recovers alkalinity 

that were inconsistent — large 

doses of magnesium hydroxide 

were regularly required. After the 

installation of quantaer fine bubble 

aeration system, higher oxygen 


IN THE FIELD 

The challenges of 

water management 

in South East Asia 

WATER SCARCITY AND WATER 

POLLUTION 

The availability of freshwater in 

South East Asia is limited and 

unevenly distributed. According to 

ADB, urban centres are the main 

areas affected by this scarcity, 

although they are not the only 

ones. Many countries in the region 

face water shortages, especially in 

periods of drought, which affects 

the population, agriculture and 

industry. Idrica specialist Lorente 

said that a main challenge lies in 

optimising the management of this 

scarce resource throughout the 

entire water cycle, from catchment 

to potential reuse. Moreover, 

all the stakeholders interested 

in this cycle must be aligned to 

ensure fairer, more efficient water 

distribution. 

A study carried out by UN 

environmental programme 

highlighted that 80% of river water 

in the APAC region is polluted. 

Rapid industrial and urban 

development in some South East 

Asian countries have brought 

The UN 

environmental 

programme 

highlighted that 

80% of river water in 

the APAC region is 

polluted 

Water management in South East Asia 

poses challenges which are related 

to its geography, climate, population 

growth and economic development. 

For example, the increase in 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 

the consequent rise in temperatures in 

recent decades means that the region 

is highly vulnerable to climate change. 

Moreover, South East Asia plays 

host to 60% of the world population 

— primarily located in cities which 

release more heat and spread by 

building new constructions on flood 

plains — thus obstructing the natural 

course of waterways and increasing 

the risk of flooding. Urban growth 

also increases water stress. In 2015, 

the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 

estimated that by 2030 there will be 

a 40% shortfall between water supply 

and demand in the region. 

Client solution architect at 

international water technology 

company specialising in smart 

solutions for utilities Idrica Víctor 

Lorente said, “It is essential to tackle 

water management challenges in 

South East Asia so as to safeguard 

the region’s sustainability and 

growth from a social, economic and 

industrial point of view.” 

This thus drives an urgent need to 

address water management issues in 

the region. Martin Shaw, non-revenue 

water (NRW) solution architect at 

Xylem, based in Malaysia, pointed 

to technology as a key player. “In an 

area with a burgeoning economy, 

technology becomes a lever for 

change to ensure the availability and 

sustainable management of water 

and sanitation services for all,” he 

said. 

water pollution from chemicals, 

industrial waste and untreated 

sewage. These affect water quality 

and the health of water-dependent 

communities. 

FLOOD MANAGEMENT, 

CROSS-BORDER WATER 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND 

CLIMATE CHANGE 

During the rainy season, South 

East Asia has to cope with severe 

floods that affect millions of people 

and cause property damage. 

The lack of sound infrastructure 

and efficient flood management 

systems exacerbates this problem. 

Many rivers and river basins here 

are shared by multiple countries, 

which can lead to disputes over 

the use and management of 

cross-border water resources. 

Rising temperatures and changes 


IN THE FIELD 

Many rivers and river 

basins here are shared 

by multiple countries, 

which can lead to 

disputes over the use 

and management of 

cross-border water 

resources 

in rainfall patterns due to climate 

change have an impact on water 

availability, the frequency and 

intensity of extreme events such as 

droughts and floods. 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 

GROUNDWATER 

OVEREXPLOITATION AND POOR 

INFRASTRUCTURE 

Balancing economic development 

and environmental conservation 

is a major challenge for water 

management in the region. The 

economic development experienced 

by South East Asia in the last 

10 years has led to increased 

demand for water and energy, which 

in turn exacerbates water scarcity 

and pollution problems. 

In some areas, excessive 

groundwater extraction for irrigation 

and domestic use lead to aquifer 

depletion and saltwater intrusion, 

making water unsuitable for drinking 

and agriculture. Additional measures 

are essential, including programmes 

to improve non-conventional water 

sources, surface water storage, and 

demand management. 

Many parts of the region also 

lack good water infrastructure 

such as water treatment facilities, 

distribution networks and drainage 

systems, which affects access to 

safe drinking water and increases 

flood vulnerability. Asia accounts 

for about half of the world’s bottled 

water market which is a factor that 

discourages investment in public 

infrastructure. 

POPULATION GROWTH, WATER 

GOVERNANCE AND POLICIES 

According to UN, approximately 

three out of every five people in 

the world live in Asia — which 

represents 60% of the global 

population — a figure that will remain 

the same in 2050. The increase of 

population and economic activities 

in cities combined with rapid urban 

development adds pressure on 

water resources as the demand for 

water increases. Additionally, yields 

from irrigated agriculture need 

to be increased, with 70% of water 

resources being used for this type 

of agriculture, causing greater water 

scarcity. 

Inconsistent water governance, lack 

of integrated water management and 

the overlap in responsibilities between 

various agencies often hinder the 

effectiveness of water management 

strategies. Environmental policies 

cannot be taken locally but must 

be wide-ranging and take in the 

complexity of ecological systems. 

CONCLUSION 

South East Asian countries need to 

adopt water management approaches 

that include implementing sustainable 

policies, strengthening water 

infrastructure, promoting water 

conservation, efficient water use, 

and regional cooperation to manage 

cross-border water resources jointly. 

In addition, public awareness and 

the active participation of local 

communities are crucial to achieve 

more effective water management in 

the region. 


FOCUS 

Energy efficient 

opportunities 

for wastewater 

treatment 

With the help of 

decanter centrifuge 

technology, a 

wastewater plant 

in China is able to 

achieve a low carbon 

solution that prioritises 

power consumption 

Wastewater treatment safeguards the 

environment and public health. But 

it comes at a cost; driven by energy 

consumption, operational expenses, 

and the challenges of managing these 

complex systems. In an era of rising 

environmental consciousness, it is 

crucial to address these challenges 

while striving for energy efficiency 

and cost-effectiveness in wastewater 

treatment. 

Wastewater treatment plants 

(WWTPs) account for about 30% 

of their total operational expenses. 

These facilities have to contend with 

rising costs of chemicals required 

to maintain water quality, proper 

treatment and disposal of sewage 

sludge generated during the process. 

Inefficient management compounds 

the problem as wastewater treatment 

is decentralised and complex, making 

data collection and supervision 

arduous. 

Drinking water and WWTPs are 

among the largest energy consumers 

globally, accounting for up to 4% of 

the world’s energy consumption. 

It is reported that merely 20% of 

these plants adequately treat their 

water, highlighting an untapped 

potential of untreated global 

wastewater. According to the UN 

Environment Programme (UNEP), 

approximately half of the world’s 

untreated wastewater still flows into 

rivers, lakes, and seas. The CO2 

emissions resulting from wastewater 

are substantial. UNEP reported 

that wastewater could serve as an 

alternative energy source for over 

half a billion people, deliver more 

than 10 times the water produced 


FOCUS 

company in China partnered with 

Alfa Laval — a global group in heat 

transfer, centrifugal separation, and 

fluid handling — to secure energy 

savings. This initiative is part of a 

larger project aimed at expanding 

an existing wastewater plant. The 

project, aligned with the government’s 

goals of water quality protection and 

industrial pollution reduction, focuses 

on water reuse and recycling. This 

endeavour supports China’s dualcarbon 

objectives to peak carbon 

emissions by 2030 and achieve 

carbon neutrality by 2060. 

The plant covers about 23.3 hectares 

and treats sewage at a capacity 

of 1.2 million m³ per day for a local 

1 

2 

population of approximately 

6 million inhabitants. After treatment, 

the clean water is discharged into 

the local river. Through the use of 

decanter technology, this project 

aims to eliminate and reduce overflow 

on both dry and rainy days, achieving 

a low-carbon solution that prioritises 

power and polymer consumption. It is 

projected to deliver energy efficiency 

improvements of 30-40% when 

measured against the performance of 

competitive solutions in China. Upon 

completion, the plant will reportedly 

rank among the largest in Asia. 

ENERGY-INTELLIGENT APPROACH 

1 BOGE 

compressors 

can recover up 

to 94% of the 

energy used 

2 At the Laillé 

WWTP, 

connected 

photovoltaic 

trackers 

controlled by AI 

improves the 

efficiency of 

renewable energy 

production 

by desalination, and diminish the 

demand for synthetic fertilisers. 

Can these treatment plants harness 

energy from wastewater while 

treating it? 

Reducing operating costs while 

improving operational and energy 

efficiency simultaneously is a 

challenge for the water sector. 

“Against a background of climate 

protection goals and rising 

energy prices, energy efficiency 

in water treatment has become 

[a] major issue,” said Nalin 

Amunugama, general manager, 

BOGE Kompressoren Asia-Pacific. 

However, he added that energy 

efficiency is still an attainable goal. 

For wastewater treatment facilities, 

technologies to reduce energy 

consumption already exist. Investing 

in the right equipment and solutions 

like artificial intelligence (AI) pay off 

quickly and improve plant efficiency 

without undue expense, especially in 

older WWTPs. 

DECANTER CENTRIFUGE 

TECHNOLOGY 

China offers an example of how 

energy savings can be achieved 

through the implementation of 

technology. A municipal wastewater 

Maximising the potential of 

technology is essential for improving 

productivity, minimising energy 

consumption, reducing losses, 

and optimising chemical usage 

in wastewater treatment. The 

Schwarzachgruppe Sewerage 

Association in Schwarzenbruck, 

Germany serves as an example 

of a WWTP that has embraced an 

energy-intelligent approach. This 

environmental innovation showcase 

project, in collaboration with 

technology company ABB, balances 

energy consumption and production 

without relying on external power 

sources. 


FOCUS 

ABB’s ‘Ability Energy Management’ 

and ‘OPTIMAX’ allow existing 

energy generation and storage 

options to be networked, controlled 

and optimised. These include a 

hydroelectric power plant in the 

WWTP outlet, photovoltaic solar 

panels, two combined heat and 

power plants using sewage gas, 

electricity storage in batteries, 

sewage gas storage, heat storage 

and various storage units for the 

continuous provision of thermal or 

electrical energy required. 

In addition, the treatment plant 

operates like a grid, allowing assets 

to be controlled through an energy 

management system. In the event 

of an oversupply of electricity, the 

battery storage system is charged. 

During low production, the battery 

storage can be discharged. The 

pilot project reportedly achieved 

100% energy savings of the previous 

electricity consumption required 

from the grid. 

COMPRESSORS AS ENERGY 

SAVERS 

Compressors and compressed air 

treatment technologies play a role in 

the energy consumption of WWTPs. 

In the US, these plants consume 

over 30 terawatt hours of electricity 

annually, resulting in US$2bn in 

electric costs. It is estimated that 

electricity expenses make up 40% 

of these plants’ annual operating 

budgets. The challenge lies in 

reducing energy consumption when 

the equipment and infrastructure do 

not prioritise energy efficiency. 

Air compressor specialist BOGE 

offers a solution to this issue. Their 

oil-injection cooled and oil-free 

screw compressors are designed to 

recover heat, which is often wasted 

in the production of compressed air. 

Instead of allowing it to dissipate 

as ambient heat, these modern 

compressors can recover up to 94% 

of the energy used, and transfer the 

heat from compressed air production 

to the desired process such as heat 

storage and operating areas, and 

for heating water or oils, without 

additional energy input. For older 

models, BOGE Duotherm system can 

be used with other brand systems. It 

is available in 5 power levels from 

7.5-110kW for easy integration 

into oil-injection cooled screw 

compressors. Amunugama added, 

“Through heat recovery, the 

compressor turns into an energy 

saver with a surge in overall 

efficiency, no matter what the original 

model or output was.” 

RENEWABLE ENERGY 

PRODUCTION 

In France, the Laillé WWTP has 

installed photovoltaic trackers. 

Controlled by Purecontrol AI system, 

the trackers allow the treatment 

plant to limit energy consumption. 

Purecontrol developed an algorithm 

capable of real-time analysis of the 

plant’s processes. 

The use of intelligent and connected 

trackers are said to improve the 

efficiency of renewable energy 

production. By following the sunrays 

in an optimal way, the trackers obtain 

a production of renewable energy 

all-day long. This approach, first of 

its kind in France, has the potential to 

reduce the plant’s carbon footprint by 

about 300 tonnes of CO2 per year. 

Testing this solution at two WWTPs 

reportedly resulted in energy bill 

savings of 15-20%. The project is 

being deployed at other WWTPs in 

France. The AI system enables the 

adjustment of energy consumption to 

coincide with peak energy production 

from the photovoltaic trackers. In 

total, on an annual consumption of 

190,000kWh which is equivalent to 

40 households, the device will reduce 

the consumption of the equipment by 

43%, to 108,000KWh. 

CLOSING THE LOOP 

WWTPs have the potential to 

reduce carbon footprint and 

energy costs as well as contribute 

to clean energy production. 

As our planet grapples with an 

expanding population and a rising 

demand for fresh water, treating 

wastewater is an urgent necessity. 

Managing wastewater safeguards 

our water supply and provides 

opportunities to recover resources. 

The circular economy concept has 

gained traction as a framework to 

transform wastewater management 

into a resource-efficient process, 

which will enable customers to 

enjoy cost-savings improvements 

and achieve sustainability targets in 

water resource management. 

“Amidst rising operational 

costs, the savings derived from 

improved energy efficiency 

will lead to quicker returns on 

initial investments,” Amunugama 

said. “These savings can then 

be reinvested in improvements, 

ensuring that WWTPs are 

well-equipped to meet future 

demands.” 

Images: BOGE 

Nalin Amunugama 

General manager, 

BOGE Kompressoren Asia-Pacific 


FOCUS 

Flow measurement 

of treated water 

for a drinking water 

supply system 

1 2 

BACKGROUND 

An Australian water utilities provider 

manages the collection, treatment 

and distribution of water for a coastal 

local government area. To supply 

private households and industrial 

clients with more than 40 million 

litres of drinking water every day, the 

company operates a water treatment 

plant with a network of reservoirs, 

pumps as well as water mains. 

MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS 

Given that water scarcity was an 

issue for the local council, flow 

measurement of treated water 

supplied to the network was critical. 

The treated water discharged from 

the main water treatment plant must 

always match with the quantities 

of water taken in from the adjacent 

river. The readings were also used 

to determine the amount of water 

being treated by the water treatment 

plant, as cross reference to the 

volume of chemicals being added 

and measured in the process such 

as chlorine gas, lime or carbon 

dioxide. 

The previously used electromagnetic 

flowmeter (EMF) from a competitor 

had not been up to the conditions 

and needed replacement. Due to 

burial installation, this meter had 

water ingress around the coil. This 

resulted in a low reading both on the 

instantaneous as well as the totalised 

flow rate. Overall accuracy was low 

and no longer up to the requirement 

of the customer. 

Due to the critical nature of this 

measurement point, the company 

needed a flowmeter that was made 

to the exact installation length of the 

previous one. Altering the pipe work 

was not an option as water supply 

must always be maintained. Reliable 

ingress protection of the flowmeter 

was compulsory. 


FOCUS 

KROHNE SOLUTION 

The water utility opted for the 

OPTIFLUX 2300 electromagnetic 

flowmeter. This high-end EMF 

was suitable for potable water 

applications requiring high accuracy 

and extensive diagnostics. The EMF 

was provided in meter size DN900 

with a hard rubber liner as well as 

rugged Hastelloy-C22 electrodes 

which conformed to the national 

drinking water standards. While 

the readings were transmitted by 

simple 4-20mA output to a control 

room, the remote wall mounted 

signal converter also allowed local 

monitoring onsite. 

The EMF came IP68 rated with 

special burial coating for subsoil 

installation. This also involved 

potting compound, rendering the 

electronics of the flowmeter well 

protected against moisture or 

constant flooding. Potting is applied 

in all KROHNE subsoil applications as 

standard. The potting mix protected 

the terminals and conductors from 

any condensation or leakage which 

may occur through the junction box 

as a result of moisture in the soil 

or heavy rainfall. The compound 

also sealed cabling insulation from 

possible ingress of moisture and 

removed a path for water ingress 

to access coil windings through the 

neck of the flowmeter. 

3 

CUSTOMER BENEFITS 

Due to its dimensions according to 

ISO standard, the KROHNE meter met 

the client’s requirements in terms of 

installation length. There was no need 

for further pipework and the given 

infrastructure remained unchanged. 

In this way, the water utility was 

able to complete the changeover of 

flowmeters within 8 hours, ensuring 

the water supply to the city was not 

compromised. 

The OPTIFLUX 2300 provided the 

company with reliable information to 

monitor water treatment efficiency. 

The EMF also helped the client 

demonstrate the performance of 

their water treatment plant to the 

water authorities, adding to other 

KROHNE products already in use 

in water as well as wastewater 

applications of the client. 

Images: KROHNE 

4 

1 Media leaking from inside the coil housing 

2 Damaged EMF before replacement 

3 OPTIFLUX 2300: EMF for advanced water 

and wastewater applications 

4 OPTIFLUX 2300 has cost-saving options 

without grounding rings and other variants 


Instrumentation confidence 

underpins power station 

performance 

FOCUS 

process. Low pH values in combination 

with turbulent flow conditions can cause 

flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC), which 

is known to be fast, destructive, and a 

main root cause of boiler tube failures. 

Power plant water steam cycle chemistry is 

therefore focused on minimising corrosion 

rates, as well as avoiding specific forms 

of corrosion such as FAC. Mitigating plant 

corrosion is achieved by continuously 

monitoring specific conductivity, as well as 

conductivity after cation exchange (CACE), 

degassed CACE, pH, dissolved oxygen and 

where required, silica and sodium analysis. 

VPI Rye house 

Steam and water quality analysis performs 

a role in the protection of power plants 

from corrosion and deposition in the water 

steam cycle. Small changes in water and 

steam quality have the potential to impact 

the performance of the power station 

and cause expensive outages. The cost 

of monitoring equipment is therefore 

negligible in comparison with the potential 

costs of failure to manage water and 

steam quality, so power plant chemists are 

seeking accuracy and reliability in their 

instrumentation. 

“Our main driver is to always ensure good 

feedwater quality, free from corrosive 

species,” said power station chemist Adrian 

Bailey from UK-based power company 

VPI. “We need instruments that deliver the 

highest performance levels continuously 

24/7, 365 days of the year. Having tried 

most of the monitors on the market, we 

have migrated almost all the water quality 

monitors at our five UK locations to Swan 

Analytical instruments.” In addition to risk 

reduction, water quality monitoring also 

enhances process efficiency, protects plant 

longevity and availability, and helps ensure 

compliance with environmental permits. 

BACKGROUND 

Various forms of corrosion can affect 

the metallic surfaces within the internal 

components of power plants. Corrosion 

is an electrochemical process, and 

any buildup of dissolved contaminants 

such as chlorides, sulphates or other 

detrimental species could enhance the 

risk of corrosion such as pitting, flow 

accelerated corrosion and stress corrosion 

cracking. This risk is amplified where high 

temperatures accelerate the corrosion 

WATER QUALITY MONITORING AT 

VPI POWER STATIONS 

VPI is one of the Combined Cycle Gas 

Turbine (CCGT) operators in the UK, with 

assets capable of generating 3.3 gigawatts 

(GW) of power; sufficient for around 3 million 

homes. The company is committed to being 

part of the UK’s pathway to net zero, and in 

the short-term, investing in its existing plant 

to protect the reliability of the UK’s power 

supply during turbulent times in the energy 

sector. 

Bailey said, “The operation of our existing 

portfolio represents a challenge because 

most power stations were designed to operate 

continuously, rather than the stop-start regime 

that is required by today’s rapidly fluctuating 

supply and demand energy market; a situation 

which can increase potential corrosion risks.” 

VPI UK locations include Damhead Creek in 

Kent, Shoreham in West Sussex, Blackburn 

in Lancashire, Rye House in Hertfordshire, 

and Immingham in Lincolnshire. In order to 

minimise corrosion, all of VPI plants dose 

condensate, feedwater with ammonia or 

amine blends to establish a specific alkaline 


FOCUS 

pH. However, these alkalising agents 

could potentially mask the presence of 

low-level contaminants, so in addition 

to continuous measurements of pH and 

specific conductivity, VPI plants also monitor 

underlying conductivity with Swan AMI CACE 

instrument, which removes the ammonia 

from samples and changes contaminants into 

their acid form to amplify their conductivity, 

and thereby enable early detection. 

Dissolved gases, such as carbon dioxide, 

can also mask the presence of low-level 

contaminants by contributing to the CACE 

value. The VPI plants also use Swan 

instruments to monitor degassed CACE 

continuously. Differential analysis of CACE 

and degassed CACE indicate whether an 

elevated cation conductivity value is due 

to the presence of carbon dioxide or more 

corrosive ions such as chloride and sulphate. 

In addition to conductivity and pH, VPI also 

employs Swan analysers to monitor trace 

amounts of dissolved oxygen, silica, and 

sodium, as well as turbidity which is used for 

trend monitoring for particulate corrosion 

products. 

1 

WHY SWAN ANALYTICAL 

INSTRUMENTS? 

Swan conductivity and pH analysers were 

first installed at Rye house power station 

around 2007, and the first Swan silica 

analyser was installed at Damhead around 

2009. “At that time, there was no common 

policy for instrumentation, and each power 

station was running different analysers,” 

said Bailey. “Service and maintenance 

procedures varied considerably, and the 

availability of spares and consumables was 

more complicated. However, the early Swan 

analysers performed, so we have gradually 

migrated almost all of our instruments, at all 

of the sites, to Swan.” 

Bailey added, “The most important feature 

of an instrument is the confidence that it 

inspires in its operators, and this is where 

Swan led the field. We routinely take grab 

samples for laboratory analysis to check 

the accuracy of the monitors, and this data 

gave us the confidence to roll them out 

more widely. 

“The amount of time spent on instrument 

maintenance is also a key issue, and 

one in which Swan excels. With high 

levels of reliability and low maintenance 

requirements, their instruments [are] 

simple to operate; the menus are easy 

to follow, without the necessity to 

memorise the manual, which means that 

the requirement for operator training is 

minimal. Occasionally, we need to utilise 

Swan’s technical support, and their staff are 

experienced, so they are able to respond 

quickly to our requests.” 

Swan power product specialist Chris Mead 

said, “Our monitors are factory-calibrated 

and pre-mounted on sample panels, making 

1 Swan instrumentation monitoring water steam 

cycles at VPI Immingham power station 

2 Swan instrumentation monitoring water steam 

cycles at VPI Shoreham 

them easier to install and integrate. With 

a single source of low-maintenance 

instruments, the cost of ownership is 

lower. However, the costs associated 

with the purchase and operation of Swan 

instruments are negligible in comparison 

with the potential cost implications of 

plant failure or asset downtime, so whilst 

we supply instruments, what we deliver is 

peace of mind.” 

Images: Swan Analytical 

2 


FOCUS 

Mine water treatment 

relies on borehole loggers 

1 

For the last 9 years, Severn Trent 

Services has managed a contract 

for mine water treatment across 

the Coal Authority estate, including 

73 mine water treatment schemes 

in England, Scotland and Wales, 

the UK. These schemes take 

the form of three types: passive, 

pumped-passive and active. Water 

levels are one of the elements 

monitored at these sites, which 

have approximately 600 monitoring 

points. The majority of the readings 

are obtained manually with dip tapes, 

and by utilising loggers, around 125 

of which are OTT ecoLog water level 

loggers. 

At most sites, mine water is pumped 

to a treatment facility which 

employs oxygenation, filtration and 

sedimentation to raise the quality 

of the water in compliance with 

discharge consents. “Mine water 

from legacy coal mines is treated 

at many of these sites utilising 

settlement lagoons and reed beds,” 

said Oren Environmental data and 

reporting manager Paul Robinson. 

He added that the management of 

these resources is dependent on 

reliable data including water level 

measurements, which they have 

been using OTT instruments since 

2016. With the benefit of water level 

data, the flow of water through the 

lagoons and reedbeds is ensured 

to maximise treatment before water 

is discharged to watercourse, 

according to Robinson. 

“One of the capabilities of the 

loggers is to create alarms and we 

are investigating for future use,” he 

said. “In addition to the older ecoLog 

500 and the newer ecoLog 1000, 

we also utilise five ecoLog 800 to 

collect and monitor conductivity 

measurements. Conductivity data 

can be used to assess the quality of 

water by identifying minerals that are 

present in the water.” 

Where the ecoLogs are deployed 

in surface water weirs, the level 

measurements are translated into 

flow, which informs the management 

of the treatment process. Many of 

the original water level loggers were 

ecoLog 500 devices, some of which 

are still in operation. However, these 

are being gradually replaced by 

ecoLog 1000 instruments. Robinson 

said that the ecoLog 1000 has 

an advantageous feature. “Data 

from the older units was collected 


FOCUS 

using a USB cable, however the 

newer instruments have Bluetooth 

connectivity, which means that our 

operators can connect more quickly 

and in adverse weather. They can 

also drive close to the logger and 

communicate wirelessly with a 

smartphone or laptop from their 

vehicle,” he added. 

The ecoLog 1000 is reportedly an 

all-in-one instrument, including a 

water level sensor, a logger, and 

a built-in modem. It requires no 

additional tools for maintenance or 

battery replacement, and has been 

designed for long-term, unattended 

monitoring in challenging conditions. 

Key features include low-power 

operation including Bluetooth 

low energy, as well as a rugged 

stainless steel pressure probe 

housing and a ceramic temperature 

compensated sensor. Typically, 

remote connectivity is achieved via 

cellular network. 

Force Crag mine in the Lake district 

is an example of a remote former 

mine with challenging environmental 

conditions. Cellular coverage is 

limited onsite, so OTT built a local 

network which transmits water level 

data via radio to two loggers located 

in a higher position. Data from these 

loggers are then transmitted regularly 

to Oren File Transfer Protocol (FTP) 

server. 

Mining commenced at Force Crag in 

1835, and it became the last working 

metal mine of zinc, lead and barytes 

in the Lake district, prior to its final 

closure in 1991. Metal pollution such 

as zinc, cadmium and lead from the 

mine polluted the Coledale Beck, a 

tributary of the river Derwent and 

Bassenthwaite Lake Special Area of 

Conservation. 

The Coal Authority, working in 

partnership with the Environment 

Agency, Newcastle University and 

the National Trust, devised a passive 

mine water treatment scheme to 

reduce the levels of metal pollution 

entering the river. The scheme, which 

opened in 2015, diverts water from 

the level 1 of a horizontal passage to 

an underground mine and routes it 

through a buried transfer pipe to two 

vertical flow ponds for treatment. 

The ponds were built using the 

existing bunding of the former 

mining tailings lagoon, lined with 

a geomembrane, and filled with a 

compost treatment mix. Water is fed 

into the ponds, where it flows down 

through the compost and passes into 

a wetland, planted with soft rushes. 

The wetland filters any remaining 

solids and oxygenates the water prior 

to discharge into the Coledale Beck. 

“Each site presents its own 

challenges,” Robinson said. “Many 

are in remote areas and in different 

environments, so we maximise the 

equipment to hand such as the 

OTT ecoLogs. Remote telemetry is 

advantageous because it provides 

access to more frequent data than 

manual dips due to the schedule of 

visits that we work to.” 

Images: OTT Hydromet 

2 3 

1 Force Cragg 

2 OTT 1000 

connection 

3 ecoLog 1000 

installed 


FOCUS 

Materials can impact 

product design life and 

produce safer drinking water 

By Timothy Fallon, Pratt technical sales manager, Mueller 

As water utilities are looking for 

ways to do more with less, some 

manufacturers are investing in R&D 

to improve the product by using new 

materials to extend product life and 

value. A simple choice of material 

can impact the design life, function, 

and performance. One change that 

has all three beneficial outcomes 

for water distribution is moving 

from nitrile (Buna-N) to Ethylene 

Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) 

for valve seats. 

Nitrile rubber or Buna-N, also known 

as Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) 

and acrylonitrile (ACN) butadiene 

rubber are synthetic rubber derived 

from ACN and butadiene. Buna-N 

is a general-purpose oil-resistant 

polymer that has good resistance 

to solvents, oil, water, and hydraulic 

fluid with good compression set 

properties. It also has acceptable 

resistance to abrasion and good 

tensile strength in laboratory tests. 

The resistance to solvents — 

particularly oils — has made Buna-N 

a popular elastomer candidate for 

use when collecting raw water, 

where pollution and illegal dumping 

have allowed petrochemicals 

to infiltrate freshwater supplies. 

Buna-N elastomers are also used 

in wastewater applications where 

resistance to solvents and oils is 

important. 

These properties are a reason 

Buna-N has been a choice for 

elastomeric seats used in multiple 

types of valves including butterfly, 

rubber seated ball, and resilient 

seated check and gate valves in 

North America. 

It has always been the mission 

of water utilities to provide 

safe drinking water, but 

contaminants are on the rise 

so municipalities have to do 

more testing and look at a broader 

spectrum of treatment solutions. 

One treatment that is becoming 

more common and in increasing 

quantities is the use of 

chloramines to disinfect 

drinking water. This has 

been standard practice 

in other parts of the 

world, and as a result, 

they have discovered 

that increased chloramine 

use leads to substantially 

higher rates of valve seat 

failure. It became evident that 

chloramine usage was the cause 

of Buna-N elastomer degradation 

characterised as mass change, which 

is due to the rubber swelling up in 

the presence of chloramines. Mass 

change is the result of excessive 

water absorption. Other failure 

modes are increased susceptibility 

to breaking stress and strain, along 

with increasing hardness, where the 

rubber is simply losing its elastomeric 

properties. 

When the integrity of any elastomer is 

compromised, chemicals or additives 

can leach into the drinking water. 

When certain standard minimum 

concentrations are detected, the 

rubber compound is designated 

unworthy for use in drinking water 

applications, per the guidelines set in 

NSF/ANSI 61: drinking water system 

components — health effects. In 

order to ensure the rubber compound 

is safe for use in drinking water or 

wastewater applications, the rubber 

compound should be thoroughly 

evaluated to the NSF standards as 

appropriate. 

Pratt butterfly valve 

(Image: Mueller) 


FOCUS 

SHIFTING TO A SAFER AND MORE 

RELIABLE ELASTOMER 

As the trend in chloramine treatment 

increases in North America, a new 

approach will be needed to ensure 

drinking water is safe and that valves 

continue to perform without having 

to send out crews to replace failing 

seats, which could result in service 

disruption. EPDM is appearing as 

a suitable replacement, given the 

changing water environment and a 

superior performing elastomer, when 

compared to Buna-N. However, not all 

rubber compounds perform the same. 

There are some Buna-N compounds 

that perform well under adverse 

conditions. The same can be said for 

Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR), 

natural rubber and neoprene rubber. 

The most common way to confirm 

the integrity of the specific rubber 

compound is by testing it under lab 

conditions. Many formulations of 

peroxide-cured EPDM are favoured 

as less susceptible to chloramine 

degradation followed by many 

formulations of Buna-N, SBR, natural 

rubber, and neoprene rubber. As 

new methods of disinfection come 

into play, manufacturers of water 

infrastructure will need to adapt and 

innovate products to better meet 

the needs of the municipal water 

industry. 

The decision as to what rubber 

compound to use is commonly 

based upon past practice and often 

outdated specification language. 

Given research and its mandate 

to continuously innovate the 

functionality and extend the product 

life of water infrastructure solutions, 

Henry Pratt company is moving to 

EPDM seats as the standard seat 

configuration for all Pratt butterfly 

valves. EDM is also readily available 

and globally sourced, reducing the 

challenges of supply chain issues 

that have arisen since the start of the 

pandemic. 

“By standardising on one seat 

material, which removes some of the 

decision-making processes through 

providing an EPDM seat, the physical 

properties are better when held 

up against chloramine attack. We 

anticipate water utilities will welcome 

the upgrade. Once maintenance 

crews see the improvement in 

durability, we anticipate EPDM will be 

the preferred choice for replacement 

seats,” said Tom Velkovich, sales 

director for the Henry Pratt company. 

As materials improve and industry 

standards evolve, utilities often 

adopt these changes when they 

upgrade facilities or perform 

routine maintenance that requires 

replacement parts. The latter is 

when utilities have an ongoing 

ability to adopt better designs and 

materials, increase the design life of 

existing infrastructure, and reduce 

the frequency of maintenance. 

Knowing what new materials and 

design improvements are available 

for new builds or plant upgrades is 

also key to ensuring utilities are well 

positioned to handle the challenges 

of today and the evolving landscape 

of delivering safe drinking water to 

all citizens. 

Pratt butterfly valve 

(Image: Mueller) 


HOTSEAT 

Transforming 

waste into wealth: 

Altent Renewables solution 

to water-rich sludge 

By Benjamin Wan, CTO and co-founder, Altent Renewables 

urgency for a sustainable paradigm 

shift. On a global scale, more than 

US$20bn is spent on sludge disposal 

annually. 

However, Altent Renewables sees 

this challenge as an opportunity. 

Leveraging its Altent hydrothermal 

process, the company converts 

challenging sludge waste into fuels and 

minerals, creating a revenue stream 

for waste producers and making waste 

disposal more sustainable. Altent 

Renewables is a part of the 2023 

cohort of the Ripple2wave Incubator, 

which is supported by EnterpriseSG 

and PUB, Singapore’s National Water 

Agency. The incubator’s mandate is to 

nurture the growth of early-stage water 

tech startups. 

ALTENT TECHNOLOGY AND THE 

ROLE OF SUPERCRITICAL WATER 

At the heart of Altent’s technology 

Altent Renewables 

lab-scale waste 

conversion unit in 

Tuas, Singapore 

Altent Renewables is a Singapore-based 

startup that offers a solution for the 

inefficiency in managing sludge waste, 

including sewage sludge, bio-sludge 

and oil sludge — a critical issue in 

the wastewater treatment industry. 

These water-rich waste materials pose 

challenges for conventional disposal 

methods, incurring costs for waste 

producers and resulting in minimal 

resource recovery. In Singapore, 

260,000 tonnes of sewage sludge are 

generated annually, which is directed 

for incineration. Beyond financial 

implications, harmful emissions such 

as nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, 

coupled with filling landfills like Pulau 

Semakau by 2035, underscore the 

lies hydrothermal gasification — a 

process for converting high-moisture 

waste into gaseous fuel with minimal 

solid byproducts. This method 

allows for the efficient conversion of 

challenging sludge waste, as well as 

other wet waste streams including 

food and agricultural waste, into fuels 

and minerals. Unlike conventional 

gasification methods that necessitate 

energy-intensive drying processes, 

Altent’s hydrothermal gasification 

circumvents these penalties, leading to 

enhanced resource recovery. 


HOTSEAT 

A pivotal element in Altent’s 

hydrothermal process is supercritical 

water. At conditions above the critical 

point of water at 374°C and 22.1 

megapascal (MPa), water exists in a 

dense phase with unique properties 

unlike that of liquid water or gaseous 

steam. This medium facilitates the 

rapid dissolution and decomposition 

of organic compounds through ionic, 

radical, hydrolysis, and pyrolysis 

reaction mechanisms, unlocking the 

potential of sludge waste for energy 

recovery. Not only does supercritical 

water accelerate the breakdown of 

complex organic compounds, it also 

serves as an excellent solvent for 

intermediate and gaseous products 

resulting from the decomposition 

process. This dual functionality 

contributes to the versatility of the 

Altent’s technology, setting it apart 

from conventional waste-to-energy 

methods. 

1 

1 Comparison of 

energy conversion 

efficiencies 

of competing 

technologies at 

varying moisture 

content 

2 Panel discussion 

at Singapore 

International 

Energy Week 

(SIEW), from 

left: Altent 

Renewables 

co-founder 

Tan Wee Han 

ITS ADVANTAGES AND EFFICIENCY 

IN HIGH WATER CONTENT 

Altent’s hydrothermal technology offers 

advantages crucial for effective wet 

waste management. The production 

of clean effluent water ensures 

environmentally-friendly outcomes, 

aligning with the increasing demand 

for sustainable practices. The 

flexibility of feedstock, a cornerstone 

of Altent’s approach, allows for 

the processing of diverse waste 

streams, enhancing the adaptability 

of the technology to different waste 

compositions. Additionally, the high 

throughput capacity of Altent’s system 

ensures a rapid conversion process, 

further reinforcing its position as a 

cost-effective solution. 

One of Altent’s achievements is 

its efficiency in handling highwater-content 

waste. When the 

water content exceeds 30%, and at 

levels above 80% — common with 

sewage sludge — Altent outperforms 

competitors by double. This efficiency 

is a testament to the performance of 

2 

Altent’s hydrothermal technology, 

showcasing its capability 

to navigate the challenges posed by 

water-rich waste materials more 

effectively than alternative methods 

like pyrolysis or thermal gasification. 

ITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND 

RECOVERY 

Altent technology excels both in 

waste conversion efficiency and 

energy management. Hydrothermal 

gasification reduces the energy 

penalties associated with drying 

high-moisture feedstocks, as is 

common in traditional gasification 

processes. Although substantial 

heat input is still required, the energy 

needed to heat water to 600°C at 

30MPa is marginally higher than that 

required for heating at 0.1MPa, where 

evaporation occurs. In the case of 


HOTSEAT 

supercritical water, the heat is more 

readily recoverable than the latent 

heat of vaporisation. This energy 

efficiency contributes to the overall 

sustainability and viability of the 

Altent hydrothermal process. 

Altent’s approach stands in contrast 

to anaerobic digestion (AD), which, 

while addressing wet waste, 

often incurs high capital costs 

and demands space, producing 

a moisture-laden solid byproduct 

that does not have a ready market. 

Altent’s hydrothermal technology, 

with its streamlined approach, 

promises a more efficient and 

economically-viable solution to wet 

waste management challenges. 

CASE STUDY 

The Altent’s hydrothermal process 

has been proven in a lab-scale 

wet waste processing plant. The 

experimental setup designed, 

developed, and deployed by the 

founders is engineered for continuous 

operation with minimal supervision, 

requiring limited oversight only during 

startup. With a maximum throughput 

capacity of 3.4L/hr, the system 

processes feedstock into the desired 

outputs which are then analysed. 

The high-temperature-resistant 

reactor, operational at temperatures 

above 500°C and at a maximum 

pressure of 30MPa, is equipped with 

a specialised solid management 

system ensuring optimal performance 

and longevity. This lab study lays 

the groundwork for a scaled-up pilot 

system, emphasising its potential for 

commercial implementation. 

Altent has obtained a Letter of 

Intent (LOI) for a pilot project and 

is currently engaged in ongoing 

discussions with two companies 

for potential long-term commercial 

partnerships. Additionally, it has 

attracted other parties across 

various industries, highlighting the 

market demand for its technology. 

Guided by mentors in the Shell 

Startup Engine programme and the 

Ripple2Wave incubator, Altent takes 

pride in strategic guidance on its 

entrepreneurial journey. 

MILESTONES, ROADMAP AND 

CONCLUSION 

Having navigated the lab phase with a 

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 

4, Altent is set to enter the pilot phase 

within the next 12 months, increasing 

the TRL to 7. This is in partnership 

with a local waste management 

company to testbed the pilot system. 

The pilot project marks a step 

towards commercialisation, aiming to 

secure 10% of Singapore’s food waste 

market with a TRL of 9 by 2026. The 

company plans to further expand 

into other wet waste streams, both 

domestically and regionally, by 2028. 

3 

4 

Altent Renewables emerges as a 

force in the waste management 

sector, offering solutions to the global 

challenge of inefficient sludge waste 

management. With its hydrothermal 

process, the company not only 

addresses the environmental impact 

of water-rich waste materials but turns 

this challenge into an opportunity 

for sustainable resource recovery. 

As Altent progresses from lab-scale 

testing to the pilot phase, it is poised 

to make an impact on Singapore’s 

sludge waste market and beyond. 

The commitment of the Altent team, 

coupled with partnerships and a 

roadmap, positions the company as a 

player in shaping a more resourceful 

future for the world. 

Images: Altent Renewables 

3 Altent Renewables 

co-founder 

Wan pitching at 

‘Deal Fridays x 

Sustainability’ 

event organised 

by Enterprise 

Singapore 

4 Altent Renewables 

co-founder Wan 

speaking at 

Ripple2Wave 

incubator opening 

ceremony 


HOTSEAT 

Sullage water treatment 

using CDS technology 

in Malaysia 

By Yale Wong, managing director, EcoClean Technology, and Prof Teo Fang Yenn, associate dean, 

faculty of science and engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia 

Sullage water is neither considered in 

the Malaysia stormwater manual nor the 

sewerage guideline for developers. It is 

therefore allowed to flow into the drainage 

system, polluting rivers. The objective of this 

project was to achieve water quality index 

(WQI) class IIB in the effluent discharge 

at Tiong Nam urban area, Kuala Lumpur, 

Malaysia. The sullage water treatment 

plant (SWTP) uses continuous deflective 

separation (CDS) technology as gross 

pollutant trap, flocculation, bioreactor tanks 

with final capture of biomass and CDS hybrid 

inclined plate clarifiers. Water samples were 

tested for its WQI for three months and the 

WQI reportedly improved after implementing 

the SWTP, arriving at class IIA. 

THE CASE STUDY OF TIONG NAM URBAN 

AREA 

Apart from installing various types of trash 

traps along rivers and more than 300 gross 

pollutant traps within the drainage system 

to improve the water quality of the Klang 

and Gombak rivers under phase one of the 

River of Life project, the federal government 

of Malaysia allocated additional funds to 

construct about 20 SWTPs. Hundreds of 

kilometres of drainage interceptors and 

pipelines were built to collect and channel 

the sullage water to these SWTPs for 

treatment before releasing the treated 

effluent into the rivers. The SWTPs were 

constructed in different parcels at different 

stages of completion, all of which were 

aimed at raising WQI from the current 

class IV and class IV — which are both 

not suitable for body contact — to class 

IIB which is suitable for body contact and 

recreational usage. 

For WQI class IIB, the parameters tested for quality of the effluent. The client, Kuala 

each influent and effluent were dissolved Lumpur City Hall, and the department of 

oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, biochemical irrigation and drainage accepted the WQI 

oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen results which were consistent with class IIA, 

demand (COD), total suspended solid (TSS), a standard achieved beyond the targeted 

ammoniacal nitrogen (AN), and Escherichiacoli 

(E-coli). Design and build subcontractor 

result of class IIB. 

EcoClean Technology proposed an alternative METHOD 

design which was accepted. The completed The plant operationally starts from the 

SWTP was tested and commissioned before primary screening at the intake sump 

the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. The followed by the mixing process in the 

water quality sampling was carried out by equalising tank. A series of submersible 

an authorised independent team and the pumps are used to draw water from the 

testing was by an independent laboratory. equalising tank to feed directly with a CDS 

EcoClean continued to operate the plant via technology. The CDS technology was quoted 

the supervisory control and data acquisition in the fifth edition of wastewater engineering 

(SCADA) system during the lockdown. treatment and resource recovery as a grit 

separator for combined wastewater and 

The results were submitted to the authority stormwater.* The CDS technology indirect 

regularly after 3 months of operation, along screening was also reportedly used for the 

with weekly lab results done on the water first time in Malaysia (Fig. 1). 

Fig. 1: Illustration of CDS technology and indirect screening 


HOTSEAT 

The second process after the 

CDS-gross screen separator (GSS) 

separation involves flocculation 

whereby the sullage water — 

treated by the CDS-GSS unit with 

70% TSS removed — goes through 

the flocculation process. Further 

reaction will occur when the 

remaining fine particles form flocs 

and is further trapped by the next 

CDS-GSS unit which has a finer 

separation screen than the first 

CDS-GSS unit. 

The trapped flocs residue will be 

purged — when it is full at the 

sump below the screen — to a 

separate dee bag sludge treatment 

process unit. The flow which has 

most of the fine TSS removed, will 

continue to reach the following 

detention tank for the biological 

treatment. The inside of this tank 

consists of suspended biofibre 

cords in submerged cages with 

cultured bacteria. Below these 

cages is the network of aeration 

piping with fine bubble diffusers. 

This is an aerobic process to 

enable attached growth on the 

biofibre chords to form a biofilm 

colony. Biofilm will consume the 

nutrients — organic and inorganic 

— from the sullage water. 

Interceptors 

Water collected 

from manholes 

of intermediate subindices. 

Calculations were performed on 

the water quality parameters to 

find individual subindices to get 

WQI classification (Fig. 3). The 

WQI result on the first month of 

operation of Tiong Nam SWTP 

was 56.52 which fell under the 

polluted category as the system 

only kickstarted and the bacteria 

was not fully grown and mature. 

However, in the following months, 

the WQI fell under the clean 

category which are 90.28 and 

92.01. Thus, the CDS units with 

integrated Tiong Nam SWTP 

treatment system had been 

effective in treating the polluted 

sullage water quality within a 

month of its commissioning. 

Parameter 

Pump sump 

SWTP 

Control panel 

room 

CDS-GSS 

F1518 

Dosing 

system 

Index range 

CONCLUSION 

This SWTP, designed by 

EcoClean Technology, made use 

of the CDS technology to treat 

sullage water in the rivers, which 

the WQI of class IV and V were 

raised to class IIA. The water 

quality of class IIA is considered 

a standard except for traces of 

E-Coli where further treatment 

like ozonation or UV disinfectant 

could be applied. Therefore, 

the stormwater loop has been 

closed and a circular economy 

is created by making effluents 

reusable for non-potable 

purposes. 

Equalisation tank 

Treated water tank 

*References are available upon request 

Images: EcoClean Technology 

Clean Slightly polluted Polluted 

WQI 81-100 60-80 0-59 

River 

Bioflocculation and 

coagulation tank 

CDS-FSS F1518C 

CDS-FSS F1518 

Bioreactor 

Fig. 2: Overall 

Tiong Nam SWTP flow 

process designed by 

EcoClean Technology 

Fig. 3: WQI 

classification 

With the expectation of biomass 

formation and shaken off as 

suspended biomass in the 

bioreactor tank under the constant 

supply of air, the fully treated 

sullage water is pumped through 

and further purified via the last 

unit of hybrid CDS-fine screen 

separator (FSS)-inclined plate 

clarifier (IPC) and stored in a clear 

water tank to be overflown out 

constantly to the adjacent Gombak 

river (Fig. 2). 

RESULTS 

The WQI was calculated using six 

parameters: DO, BOD, COD, TSS, 

AN, and pH with the inclusion 

Yale Wong 

Managing director, EcoClean Technology 

Prof Teo Fang Yenn 

Associate dean, faculty of science 

and engineering, University of 

Nottingham Malaysia 


[Trade Fair] Vietwater 2023 

11-13 Oct 2023, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 

NEWSLETTER 

OF THE 

SINGAPORE 

WATER 

ASSOCIATION 

BRINGING 

A NEW VIBRANCY 

TO SINGAPORE’S 

GROWING 

WATER INDUSTRY 

SWA spearheaded the Singapore pavilion at the 14th Vietwater 

2023 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The pavilion hosted 7 companies 

within a 90m 2 of exhibition space, benefitting from a subsidy of up 

to 70% on booth participation fees. The three-day event offered 

business prospects for Singaporean exhibitors. It provided a platform 

to showcase their water-related expertise and solutions, attract 

inquiries for technologies, engage in trade with solution providers, 

exchange practices, and stay abreast of global trends. This has 

prompted exhibitors to participate again in 2024, scheduled from 

6-8 Nov 2024.

[Event] Third meeting of SG Water Internationalisation Networking Club 

27 Oct 2023, CALI, Ascott Raffles Place Singapore 

The third meeting of SG Water Internationalisation Networking 

Club (INC) convened 25 attendees. Charles Lim, senior 

development partner at Enterprise Singapore, provided insights 

about market sharing in Vietnam. Tan Tian Luh, director at 

Chancery Law Corporation, addressed the assembly on risk 

management in overseas contracting. He conducted a SWA 

masterclass training session centred around the Public Sector 

Standard Conditions Of Contract (PSSCOC) and FIDIC Silver Book. 

The meeting also included 2024 work plan discussions, culminating 

in a networking session with canapes, dinner, beer and wine. 

[Event] The 49th Singapore Water Industry Nite 

2 Nov 2023, Peirce auditorium, PUB WaterHub 

The 49th edition of Singapore Water Industry Nite (SWIN) 

was sponsored by ROXTEC Singapore. The event featured 

various programme highlights, including a welcome address 

and updates delivered by SWA, insights shared by ROXTEC 

Singapore and a presentation by PUB, Singapore's National 

Water Agency, on water recycling opportunities and funding 

support. Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) 

introduced the centre for climate adaption and ripple2wave 

provided an informative sharing. PUB also sponsored 

Newbrew, which was served during the networking dinner with 

bartending cocktails, catering to over 130 guests and members 

in attendance.

[Visit] Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Malaysia 

15 Nov 2023, Singapore Water Exchange (SgWX) 

The Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) delegation, 

representing PUB counterpart overseeing water services in 

Malaysia, met SWA members. They were presented with solutions 

by SEA 2023 exhibitors and SG Water Inc members — Aquax, HSL 

Constructor, Novexx and Tigernix. SPAN’s visit focused on learning 

about distribution loss and Singapore's technologies for leakage 

prevention; understanding PUB regulatory roles and strategies for 

efficient water use; exploring sewerage catchment management; 

and Singapore's deep tunnel system. The event was attended by 

30 SWA members, extended with a networking lunch. 

[Event] Coastal protection, securing a 

resilient future for Singapore 

17 Nov 2023, Enterprise Singapore, Bugis Junction 

The sharing session underscored the vulnerability of Singapore 

coastal areas. With these challenges, urgent action is crucial to 

safeguard and preserve shorelines. This discussion forum served 

as a platform to address coastal protection, a pivotal aspect in 

ensuring Singapore's future security. Plans to establish a ‘SWA 

Coastal Protection Chapter’ was also unveiled during this event. 

Commencing with a welcome address by Charles Quek, SWA 

council vice-president of general affairs, and opening remarks 

from Hazel Khoo, director of coastal protection at PUB, the 

session featured insights from various speakers. James Lam, SWA 

chair of Protem committee; Celine Teo, senior assistant director 

of coastal protection department; Peter Ho, representing the 

forum for climate change adaptation; and Peter Stones from Arup 

provided industry perspectives. The session offered insights to 

120 attendees and concluded with a brief networking tea break.

[Trade Fair] Sustainability 

Environment Asia 2023 

22-24 Nov 2023, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

SWA led the Singapore pavilion at the inaugural Sustainability 

Environment Asia (SEA) 2023 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 

(KLCC) from 22-24 Nov 2023 with a total space of 126m 2 shared by 

five Singapore companies. Singapore exhibitors enjoyed the Local 

Enterprise and Association Development International Fairs and 

Missions (LEAD IFM) subsidy of up to 70% on booth participating 

fees. 

SWA led a business mission with 15-member delegation to Indah 

Water Konsortium, Langat wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), 

and Air Selangor, Langat water treatment plant (WTP), on 21 Nov 

2023. On 22 Nov 2023, the Singapore business forum helped 

facilitate B2B meetings with Malaysia Water Association (MWA) 

members to create new business partnerships. SWA vice-president 

Quek was also interviewed by Malaysian news media Bernama at 

the show and he shared about getting ASEAN countries to work 

together in addressing climate change and sustainability. 

[Visit] Central Taiwan Science Park 

29 Nov 2023, Pierce auditorium, PUB WaterHub 

The event provided an overview of Central Taiwan Science 

Park (CTSP) growth, technological advancements, and its 

role in driving industrial development. Twenty attendees 

learned about the achievements and the strategic vision 

guiding its future initiatives. A networking lunch was 

provided at the end of the session by Wilo Group. Plans are 

underway for a mission trip to CTSP in 2024.

UPCOMING SWA ACTIVITIES 

[Trade Fair] Asiawater 2024 

23-25 Apr 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

SWA is set to oversee a 240m 2 Singapore pavilion at the 13th 

edition of Asiawater 2024, scheduled to take place at KLCC from 

23-25 Apr 2024. This event stands as an extensive international 

gathering for water and wastewater in emerging Asia. It 

will exhibit high-tech low-cost products and solutions from 

worldwide sources, highlighting advancements in water resources 

management, sewerage, industrial wastewater treatment, 

purification, irrigation, and other related fields. Grant support of 

up to 70% from Enterprise Singapore can be given to exhibitors. 

For more information, please contact jasvinder@swa.org.sg. 

SWA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS 

(joined from October-November 2023) 

ORDINARY 

1. Mlion Corporation Pte Ltd 

2. Woh Hup (Private) Ltd 

3. Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors bv 

INDIVIDUAL 

1. Dr Lin Quanhong 

ASSOCIATE 

1. Binder Instrumentation Pte Ltd 

2. Tigernix Pte Ltd 

2024 EVENTS CALENDAR 

We look forward to your support in 2024. Download the event 

calendar: https://www.swa.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ 

Calendar-of-SWA-Workplan-2024.pdf. 

For queries, please contact SWA at T: 65150812 or 

enquiry@swa.org.sg. To stay connected, visit https://www.swa.org.sg, 

and follow us on Telegram, LinkedIn, Instagram and WhatsApp. 

JOIN SWA? 

SWA welcomes organisations from the water and wastewater 

industry to join as either ordinary, associate or institutional member. 

Sign up at https://www.swa.org.sg/membership/sign-up-online.

ON OUR RADAR 

New KSB 

submersible pumps 

in discharge tube for 

a range of applications 

KSB group has launched a new 

submersible pump in discharge 

tube with open multi-vane impeller 

in Q4 2023. The type series has 

been named AmaCan D. Its main 

application is transporting large 

volumes of municipal or industrial 

water as well as wastewater from 

stormwater, drainage and irrigation 

pumping stations. When selected 

with optional corrosion-resistant 

and abrasion-resistant materials, 

the type series can also be used in 

water pollution and flood control or 

in seawater aquaculture systems. 

The pump generates a maximum 

flow rate of 8000m3/hr and a 

maximum discharge head of about 

30m. The highest motor rating 

available as standard is 340kW. 

Priorities set by the developers 

were to achieve a high operating 

reliability of the waste water 

hydraulic systems as well as high 

hydraulic efficiencies. Here, typical 

operating ranges of submersible 

pumps in discharge tube were 

focused. 

The outer design of the pump 

sets has been shaped by the 

manufacturer for this type of 

pumps. The pump’s self-centering 

and non-positive seating in the 

discharge tube, sealed by an 

O-ring, makes it easy to install 

and remove. No anchoring or 

anti-rotation elements are 

needed. 

Integrated and intelligent sensor 

monitoring detects any vibrations 

or leakages and measures the 

temperature of bearings and motor. 

It provides continuous supervision 

of operation and early detection of 

malfunctions as well as the option 

of predictive maintenance. With 

regard to low electricity consumption, 

the drives of submersible pumps 

in discharge tube also play a role. 

Hence, all electric motors are of an 

efficiency corresponding to class 

IE3 for standardised motors to IEC 

60034-30. This is important for 

powerful pumps with a high frequency 

of starts. 

Two bidirectional mechanical 

seals prevent water ingress into 

the motor space. A chamber filled 

with environmentally-friendly oil 

ensures cooling and lubrication of 

the mechanical seals even when 

gas-laden fluids have to be pumped. 

Dimensioned ball bearings sealed for 

life support the stainless steel shaft. 

The design of the cable gland: 

individual conductors stripped, tinned 

and sealed in resin ensure that the 

cable gland is watertight. In the event 

of damage to the cable sheath or 

the insulation, the pump is protected 

against short circuits due to its 

design. To ensure that the pumps can 

be dismantled after years of operation 

under tough conditions, all wetted 

screwed connections are made of 

high-grade stainless steel. 

1 AmaCan D 

(Image: KSB) 

2 D Impeller 

(Image: KSB) 

1 

2 


ON OUR RADAR 

Sumitomo speed 

reducer: Cyclo 6000 

With over eight decades of history, 

Cyclo technology has been 

integrated into one of Sumitomo Drive 

technologies products — Cyclo 6000 

— which is synonymous to a speed 

reducer. 

Unlike geared designs, the Cyclo 

reduction components operate in 

compression rather than shear, which 

reportedly results in its rugged and 

500% momentary shock resistant 

performance. 

This design enables the load to spread 

across two-third of the reduction 

components, allowing the units to 

absorb and dissipate shocks better 

than typical concentric drives. All 

torque transmitting parts reportedly 

roll, not grind. 

1 

The Cyclo disc rotating components 

are also manufactured from fully 

hardened, vacuum-degassed, bearing 

grade steel that provides minimal 

vibration, low noise, low backlash 

and extended operational life. Due to 

its flat Cyclo disc arrangement, it is 

compact, even at high reduction rates. 

These make the discs consistent and 

allow it to run on a typical operating 

life of 20 years. This assurance is 

backed with a two-year warranty on all 

Cyclo 6000 products. 

(Image: Sumitomo) 

On top of the mechanism and design, 

Cyclo 6000 housings are made of 

shock-resistant cast iron, except for 

three smallest size models. Its durable 

and rugged construction allows it 

withstand high heat, suitable for most 

applications. It can be manufactured in 

a range of reduction ratios in a single 

reduction, from 2.5-119. The selection 

and variety are wide, and reduction 

ratios are offered from 1/2.5-1/119 

for single stage and ratios up to 

658503:1 for triple stages. They are 

said to be easily configured to both 

double and triple reduction types by 

layering the reducer mechanisms. 

Over the years, Cyclo 6000 has 

run on a variety of applications 

across different industries, such 

as mixers, pumps, wastewater 

treatment, conveyors, automotive 

plants, recycling machines, steel 

mills, construction equipment, 

paper mills, palm oil mills, food 

machinery, poultry plants, sawmills 

and wood mills and processing 

plants. 

1 The Cyclo design 

provides quiet 

and efficient 

performance, 

making both 

its speed 

reducers and 

gearmotors 

series, the 

premier in-line 

drives (Image: 

Sumitomo) 


ON OUR RADAR 

New SO-3 

screw compressor 

from BOGE 

BOGE SO-3 oil-free screw compressor has 

improved energy efficiency (Image: BOGE) 

With the introduction of the SO-3 

oil-free screw compressor, BOGE 

has improved the energy efficiency 

of its SO series. The specific power 

consumption has been increased 

by 8%. The developed air end of 

the compressor has low speeds, 

and subsequently low compressor 

temperatures, with its wear-resistant 

design. The integrated IE4 drive 

motor also contributes to its 

cost-effective operation. The 

cooling system has low compression 

and output temperatures. While the 

screw compressor is compact, the 

components are still accessible for 

maintenance purposes. Specific 

sound insulation measures have 

been implemented to reduce noise 

levels. The compressor is available 

with frequency control and heat 

recovery, as required. 

“What BOGE offers is maximum 

flexibility and additional options 

to increase efficiency,” said Nalin 

Amunugama, general manager, 

BOGE Kompressoren Asia-Pacific. 

“The heat recovery enables up to 

94% of the applied energy to be used 

to heat the service water and for the 

heating system.” 

In the total cost of ownership 

evaluation, the compressor has low 

total costs over its entire life cycle. 

Further advantages include the large 

control range, quiet operation and 

the option to recover heat from hot 

water temperatures of up to 90°C. 

OPTIMUM ADJUSTMENT TO 

EXISTING REQUIREMENTS 

The SO-3 is also equipped with 

the optional service tool BOGE 

connect. The compressed air 

expert provides a compressed 

air management system. “All of 

the operating parameters are 

continuously recorded, visualised 

and analysed in our portal potential 

optimisations,” Amunugama added. 

With options to connect 

adsorptions dryers and 

other accessories, the BOGE 

SO-3 screw compressor is a 

customised solution for a variety 

of applications that require large 

quantities of high-quality, oil-free 

compressed air. This ensures 

the compressor can be used in 

different sectors such as the 

pharmaceutical, F&B and textile 

industries; mechanical engineering 

applications and industrial coating 

companies. 


ON OUR RADAR 

Transmitter for precise 

drinking water flow 

measurements 

NIVUS NivuFlow 600WS, a system for 

non-contact flow measurement, is developed for 

drinking water applications as a new standard 

for measuring and monitoring drinking water 

flows. The measurement system is said to have 

a simple installation without the need to interrupt 

the process along with its high measurement 

accuracy. 

1 

2 

The NivuFlow 600WS records 

and monitors all system-relevant 

parameters such as the flow rate, 

flow speed and water temperature, 

including low flow speeds of 

up to 3cm/sec. The NivuFlow 

600WS is also suitable for leakage 

monitoring in the drinking water 

network with simultaneous 

monitoring of the temperature 

relevant for hygienic operation. 

Commissioning is straightforward 

due to the menu-supported sensor 

alignment. The measurement 

system is reportedly suitable 

for common pipe materials 

and pipe linings. It can also be 

installed directly in the ground 

without the need for a shaft 

structure. The IP68 clamp-on 

sensors are clamped onto the 

pipe from the outside. This 

mounting prevents frequent 

opening and, if necessary, cut 

the pipe and then flush the pipe. 

The intuitive operating concept 

of the transmitter enables quick 

commissioning and also on-site 

diagnostics with Internet of Things 

(IoT)-ready function and 4G 

connection. 

1 The system also has measurement 

dynamics and is suitable for 

bidirectional measurements 

(Image: NIVUS) 

2 Flow transmitter for drinking 

water applications (Image: NIVUS) 

Furthermore, the sensors do not 

come into contact with the drinking 

water, guaranteeing hygiene and 

making the measurement system 

suitable for retrofitting to existing 

systems. Operations can continue 

smoothly while the measurement 

is set-up within minutes. Typical 

applications include flow 

measurements in drinking water 

tanks, pumping stations and 

treatment plants. 


ON OUR RADAR 

ANDRITZ C-press 

screw press: 

The operator-friendly 

technology for 

dewatering 

mode with user-friendly control system, 

minimum operator supervision is required. 

This makes it ideal for small-scale startup 

WWTPs. 

LOW MAINTENANCE AND 

HIGH PERFORMANCE SYSTEM 

The ANDRITZ C-press is also reportedly 

designed with quality materials for a longer 

life cycle and with fewer wear parts. Due 

to its design, machine maintenance can be 

conducted easily without removing screw 

and basket from the frame. When necessary, 

the inner screen can be exchanged without 

having to replace the complete basket. This 

is said to reduce downtime and increase 

machine availability. 

With its direct drive system and conical shaft 

with constant screw pitch, the complete 

C-press screw press range — with the 

C12060 being the largest — has feed 

capacities ranging from 1-95m³/hr and offers 

outlet capacities from 20-1,300kg of dry 

solids per hour. 

ANDRITZ C-press C12060 — one of the highest capacity 

screw presses on the market with an average dry-solids 

throughput of 420-1,300kg/hr (Image: ANDRITZ) 

The ANDRITZ C-press is a screw press 

providing high performance with low 

operating costs for sludge dewatering 

in municipal and industrial wastewater 

treatment plants (WWTPs). It is reportedly 

developed with long-standing expertise in 

designing and manufacturing screw presses. 

Globally recognised, this equipment offers 

an array of benefits for dewatering municipal 

and industrial wastewater. 

INLINE COMPACT DESIGN AND 

LOW POWER CONSUMPTION 

The inline compact design of the C-press 

ensures it occupies a small footprint, 

making installation quick. The C-press also 

operates at low speed, consuming minimal 

energy. This low power consumption not 

only reduces operational costs, but also 

diminishes the carbon footprint of the 

WWTP. 

Maximising the open area of the basket, the 

C-press also offers a high specific capacity 

and capture rate compared to equivalent 

technologies. The screw velocity is adjusted 

automatically according to feed fluctuation to 

ensure a constant feed flow while delivering 

performance in terms of dryness and capture 

rate, even during washing sequences. 

In a statement, Nicolas Perrier, ANDRITZ 

product manager said that the equipment 

offers low consumption of water — 30% less 

than comparable equipment — for washing. 

“We do not need to stop the sludge feed 

to carry out washings, so we can operate 

continuously with greater productivity,” he 

said. 

A fully-automatic machine with continuous 

control of performance, screw speed, 

counter-pressure, and washing, the ANDRITZ 

C-press is said to be an operator-friendly 

screw press that grants consistent 

performance with low power consumption, 

emissions, and maintenance. The C-press 

also complies with regulations on safety, 

hygiene, and environmental protection issues. 

LOW EMISSIONS AND 

OPERATOR-FRIENDLY DESIGN 

The enclosed design of the C-press ensures 

minimal odour emissions, providing a clean 

working space. Moreover, it operates 

at less than 60 A-weighted decibels 

(dBA), reducing noise emissions, and 

thus promoting an overall better working 

environment. Operating in full-automatic 

Perrier added, “The C12060 — one of the 

highest capacities on the market — is an 

alternative to other large technologies 

for sludge dewatering, such as large belt 

presses, which are more energy-intensive and 

more demanding in maintenance. ANDRITZ 

has a wide range on the market to meet 

the separation needs of customers in the 

environmental sector.” 


ON OUR RADAR 

Danfoss DST P10B CANopen 

pressure transmitter 

for sensor-level connectivity 

Sensor-level digital communication is 

necessary to push industrial applications 

and automation forward. As part of its 

mission to expand the Danfoss Smart 

Sensor portfolio, the DST P10B CANopen 

pressure transmitter is introduced. It 

is said to be the first release of a new 

pressure transmitter platform built on 

the DST P1XX product range with several 

fieldbus protocols in scope for the future 

— supporting greater energy efficiency, 

operational optimisation, and performance. 

1 

2 

1 CAN bus connectivity 

provides smart sensor 

data with scalability 

(Image: Danfoss) 

2 DST P10B CANopen 

pressure transmitter 

(Image: Danfoss) 

Built on top of DST P1XX pressure 

transmitter, the DST P10B delivers a 

CANopen DS301/DS404 communication 

profile to add sensors to existing 

high-level fieldbus communication 

in water distribution; air compressor; 

heating, ventilation, air conditioning 

and refrigeration (HVACR); and 

other applications. The embedded 

communication protocol allows for more 

sophisticated communication between 

the sensor and the application interface 

to create and access new features for 

optimised performance while reducing 

complexity. 

“The DST P10B CANopen pressure 

transmitter helps our customers keep 

pace with industry trends, new application 

requirements, and the ongoing Industry 

4.0 journey,” said Peter Sonderriis, market 

segment manager at Danfoss Climate 

Solutions. 

Its features are actionable data and 

boosted reliability due to optimised 

packaging of the microelectromechanical 

system (MEMS) sensor element. The 

signal-conditioning electronics are 

vibration-, heat-, and moisture-resistant, 

and optimised with a faster time-to-market 

due to the ‘test-to-failure’ development 

process. The diagnostics integrate 

electronic capabilities in the actionable 

sensor data give more accurate and 

cost-saving troubleshooting. Furthermore, 

the new modular electronics platform and 

fieldbus interface enable finetuning the 

sensor to specific application needs for 

simple scalability. Connecting the sensor 

to the fieldbus channel simplifies the 

wire harness and streamlines root cause 

analysis, lowering system cost. 

Industries have been empowered by 

digitalisation, gaining more efficiency, 

optimised performance, and safety 

from their applications. When smart 

communication on the sensor level is 

added, Danfoss reportedly helps customers 

build solutions in demanding industrial 

applications. Iro Dragoumi, portfolio and 

business development manager at Danfoss 

Sensing Solutions, said, “The key advantage 

is that fieldbus communication allows you 

to access more actionable sensor data — 

from diagnostics to part information — to 

reduce application complexity, increase the 

quality of the monitoring system, and boost 

uptime.” 

The benefits of CAN bus communication 

include a simplified wire harness at the 

edge. Smart sensors can be daisy-chained 

to a fieldbus cable rather than requiring 

individual cables running to the controller 

as in analogue sensors in an advanced 

application control loop. Digital fieldbus 

sensors relieve adding analogue sensors to 

application-specific controllers, making it 

simple to expand the communication protocol 

down to the sensor and actuator level. With 

fieldbus communication, each sensor is said 

to have its unique identification supporting 

easier troubleshooting and a higher quality of 

information being sent to the controller. 

The application data gathered by smart 

sensors are the key to driving future 

industrial developments feeding new 

innovations such as machine learning (ML) 

and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms 

for predictive maintenance, machine 

health monitoring, and boosting system 

performance. With the introduction of 

the DST P10B CANopen and the ongoing 

expansion of the DST P1XX platform 

with CAN bus protocols, Danfoss helps 

customers navigate the digital sensor 

frontier. 


ON OUR RADAR 

GWS ASME series: 

Heavy duty pressure vessels 

GWS is a manufacturer of pressure 

vessels built to the American 

Society of Mechanical Engineers 

(ASME) boiler and pressure vessel 

code, one of the world’s most 

rigorous quality standards. 

With design, fabrication, assembly, 

and inspection carried out in GWS’ 

own ASME-accredited facility, 

these pressure vessels ensure 

the safety, reliability and peace 

of mind for customers’ most 

challenging applications. Standard 

volumes range from 60-3,000L 

with a 10bar pressure rating and 

interchangeable membrane design. 

All vessels are manufactured in an 

ISO 9001/14001/45001 approved 

facility. 

In addition to the standard 

range, GWS also offers a suite of 

ASME pressure vessel design and 

fabrication services for custom 

sizes and pressure ratings to suit 

any application, and supplies 

these with U-stamp to ensure 

regulatory compliance. 

Certified to ASME boiler and 

pressure section VIII division 1 

code, permanent data record is 

maintained for each vessel 

(Image: GWS) 

Emerson launches compact 

valve position indicator 

for quick commissioning 

Emerson’s new TopWorx DVR switchbox — 

an entry-level addition to the DV series of 

valve position indicators combines a durable 

resin enclosure, compact size and a cam 

design — provides water and wastewater 

systems, F&B production lines and industrial 

utilities a valve position feedback tool. 

The TopWorx DVR switchbox uses a low 

profile indication to provide easy-to-read 

local position feedback. This is real-time 

data that helps plant operators keep 

processes on target. Engineered for harsh 

environments, it features stainless steel 

components to provide a corrosion-resistant 

valve indication solution to keep processes 

running smoothly. Clear feedback of valve 

position helps process industry plants, 

platforms and pipelines 

operate safely without 

taking up additional 

production line footprint. 

Its cam design enables 

swift position configuration 

for faster installation 

and maintenance. For 

many process industry 

applications, it provides a 

compact design suited for confined 

spaces. In addition, its enclosure has UV 

F1 rating, providing UV resistance that 

ensures it performs over the long-term in 

outdoor conditions. This switchbox is in the 

TopWorx valve intelligence and proximity 

sensing portfolio from Emerson, designed 

The TopWorx DVR switchbox is a durable 

valve positioner that provides open and close 

valve position feedback (Image: Emerson) 

to help process industry plants manage and 

control operations more intelligently under 

demanding conditions. 


SHOW REVIEW 

SEA 2023 highlights 

growing regional efforts 

for a green future 

1 2 

3 

1 The seminars organised 

by SEA exhibitors delved 

into advancements 

in sustainable and 

environmental practices, 

delivering an overview 

of news in this industry 

2 Industries represented 

were water and 

wastewater, and green 

technology 

3 This assembly brought 

stakeholders in the 

sustainability industry 

across South East Asia 

The inaugural Sustainability Environment 

Asia (SEA) was held from 22-24 Nov 2023 

at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), 

Malaysia. This event was co-located 

with E-Mobility Asia (EMA). This event 

marked the collective effort to address 

environmental challenges, promote 

sustainable practices, and advocate for a 

lifestyle centred around sustainability. 

The opening ceremony was graced by 

the presence of Tengku Zafrul, Minister 

of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI). 

The two events showcased 62 exhibiting 

companies and drew over 6,000 trade 

visitors and delegates from 34 countries. 

Participants included The Electrical 

and Electronics Association of Malaysia 

(TEEAM), ESG Association of Malaysia 

(ESGAM), Malaysia Water Association 

(MWA), Malaysian Recycling Alliance 

(MAREA), Singapore Water Association 

(SWA), and Taiwan Environmental 

Manufacturers Association (TEMA). SEA 

emerged as a platform for interactions 

between buyers and sellers, facilitating 

connections with stakeholders. Vivien 

Seong, SWA executive director, said the 

association will be back next year and 

looked forward to engaging with coastal 

management and flood management 

companies. 

Visitors could explore technologies and 

the trends in sustainability landscape. The 

event provided an opportunity to engage in 

the Singapore business forum and business 

matching, organised by SWA in collaboration 

with MWA. Visitors also participated in the 

‘Women in Sustainability’ forum, featuring 

experts from the Philippines and Malaysia, 

showcasing the role of women in driving 

sustainability initiatives. These sessions 

offered a perspective on contemporary 

affairs within the realm of sustainability. The 

second edition of SEA is scheduled to take 

place from 12-14 Nov 2024 at KLCC. 

Images: SEA 2023 


WHAT’S NEXT 

Events calendar 

2024 

JANUARY 

24 – 27 January 

WWETT, Indiana, US 

31 January – 2 February 

InterAqua 2024, Tokyo, Japan 

JULY 

3 – 5 July 

Thai Water Expo, Bangkok, Thailand 

30 July – 1 August 

Pump & Valves Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia 

FEBRUARY 

20 – 21 February 

World Water-Tech, London, UK 

APRIL 

16 – 18 April 

World Future Energy Summit, 

Abu Dhabi, UAE 

18 – 20 April 

IE expo China, Shanghai, China 

23 – 25 April 

AsiaWater, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

30 April – 2 May 

Ozwater, Sydney, Australia 

MAY 

13 – 17 May 

IFAT, Munich, Germany 

18 – 24 May 

10th World Water Forum, Bali, Indonesia 

JUNE 

10 – 14 June 

ACHEMA, Frankfurt, Germany 

AUGUST 

11 – 15 August 

IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, 

Toronto, Canada 

28 – 31 August 

Water Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia 

SEPTEMBER 

4 - 6 September 

IWRA Islands Water Congress 

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands 

18 – 20 September 

Indo Water Expo & Forum, 

Jakarta, Indonesia 

NOVEMBER 

6 – 8 November 

Vietwater, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 

DECEMBER 

11 – 13 December 

Aquatech China, Shanghai, China 

18 – 22 June 

SIWW, Singapore 


ADVERTISER’S INDEX 

ADVERTISER 

ASIAWATER 2024 

PAGE 

IBC 

CLA-VAL COMPANY 64 

GUANGDONG LIANSU TECHNOLOGH INDUSTRIAL CO LTD 

IFC 

HARBIN FIRSTLINE ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD 11 

INDOWATER 2024 

OBC 

TSURUMI SINGAPORE PTE LTD 7 

WATER & WASTEWATER ASIA 1

Water & Wastewater Asia January/February 2024

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